Caskey, Pierce ask for runoff in commissioners' race
Published 12:00 am Friday, May 11, 2012
Two Republicans have called for a runoff in the Rowan County Board of Commissioners primary.
Mike Caskey and Craig Pierce, who finished third and fourth, respectively, in Tuesday’s voting, filed their requests this morning at the Rowan County Board of Elections.
Former commissioner Gus Andrews topped the balloting and Gene Miller finished second. Since no candidate in the field of nine got more than 20 percent of the total vote, however, the next two finishers were eligible to ask for a runoff.
The requests are pending a canvass by the Board of Elections on Tuesday that will make the primary results official.
The runoff election would take place July 17, to coordinate with Congressional runoffs.
In the Democratic primary, third-place finisher Corey Hill can request a runoff with Ralph Walton, who came in second, and said Tuesday that he probably will. He had not filed a formal request this morning. He has until noon Wednesday to file the request.
Leda Belk, also a former commissioner, avoided a runoff by taking 27 percent of the total vote in a six-candidate field of Democrats.
Two open seats on the county board will be decided in the fall election.