By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
The eight Republican candidates for county commissioner are struggling to grab voters’ attention as the May 6 primary nears.Two candidates who aren’t on the GOP ballot are shutting them out.
Most of the candidates feel like they are competing against Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the presidential candidates.
“This is a great big circus,” said Harry Rivera, a first-time candidate.
Rivera never figured on a race like this. “People are not paying any attention to the issues in all this hoopla,” he said.
He expects the circus to come an end May 6, but that will be too late for the local candidates trying to find support.
“The community is so focused on the presidential race, our race isn’t on their agenda,” said Ken Deal, director of administration for the county. He is also making his first run for office.
Carl Ford, a China Grove broadcaster who has run nearly a half-dozen races before, hasn’t seen anything like this one.
“To hear people talking, they don’t think they’re voting for anybody else except Obama or Clinton,” Ford said.
“There’s not a lot of talk out there about the governor’s race, county commissioner or other local races,” said Patty Overcash of Landis. She’s another first-timer. “I just hear about the presidential race.”
Mike Miller, owner of the Miller Davis marketing firm, is concerned that Republicans won’t turn out in high numbers because the party’s presidential race is settled.
“Hillary and Obama have taken over … getting all the publicity, the news,” said Donna Peeler of Rockwell, a longtime Republican party activist.
And there is the prospect that some who turn out may be disappointed.
“The Democratic presidential race will bring out more voters,” said Von Coolidge Poston, a longtime downtown Salisbury merchant.
Poston said there may be some Republican voters who think they can vote for Clinton or Obama and find out they can’t. “They’ll be surprised,” Poston said, adding that the presidential hype could carry over and produce a heavy Republican primary vote.
Incumbent Jim Sides is the only candidate among the eight who doesn’t believe voters are distracted by the presidential race.
Voters are paying attention to Sides, who readily admits people either love him or hate him.
“The local races in Rowan County are getting a lot more attention,” Sides said. “There are a lot of people working behind the scene to make sure I don’t get it (the nomination).”
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com.