The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will have at least two new members this fall.
Filing closed at noon today, and of the three seats up for election this year, only Chairman Jim Sides filed to keep his.
Commissioners Jon Barber and Chad Mitchell are not running for the county board.
Mitchell announced earlier he wouldn’t seek re-election, instead running for the 77th N.C. House District seat currently held by fellow Republican Harry Warren.
Barber has been noncommittal about whether he would seek a third term, but commented at a recent budget workshop that this could be his last county budget process.
In an email, Barber said he made the decision “due to time constraints.”
“During my 8 years as a County Commissioner I believe I’ve made a difference in the lives of our citizens and it has been my honor to serve. I will continue to make a difference in the lives of our citizens but rather in ways that will be more effective,” Barber wrote in the email.
Over the years, Barber has been at odds with other county commissioners over a variety of issues.
Voters will have plenty of choices for commission candidates in the upcoming primary elections — at least, Republican voters will. Eight Republican candidates have filed for the office, along with two Democrats and a Libertarian.
Additionally two candidates — former commissioner Raymond Coltrain and former Rowan-Salisbury School System executive Gene Miller — are seeking support as unaffiliated candidates.
The Post will have a complete list of candidates for commissioner and other offices in Saturday’s paper and online.
Other than the incumbent Sides, Republican candidates for commissioner include David Roueche, Jonathan Love, Judy Klusman, Jim Greene, Greg Edds, Joe Coladarci and Brandon Cupp.
Democrat candidates are Rick Locklear and Leda Shuping Belk.