By Rebecca Rider

rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Josh Wagner, chairman of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, stood at the counter with a check when the clock in the Rowan County Board of Elections office hit noon on Friday. His fellow incumbent, Susan Cox, was right behind him.

The filing period for November’s Board of Education election had begun.

Three seats are up for grabs, including Cox’s and Wagner’s. Chuck Hughes, who holds the Salisbury seat, is also up for re-election this year. Hughes filled out his paperwork earlier in the morning, he said, but he came by not too long after noon to officially file.

The Board of Elections office was briefly filled with noise and chatter as Cox, Hughes and Wagner, accompanied by wife Brittany and daughters Kate and Caroline, filed and opened campaign accounts.

The three incumbents said in an interview earlier this week that they’re running to see through several issues and programs currently being discussed by the board.

Newcomers Mike Julian, who is aiming for Wagner’s east seat, and Andrew Poston, who will face off with Cox, declared their intent to run earlier in the year, but did not file Friday. Poston has expressed his intent to file next week. Poston and Julian both declared their intent to run earlier this year, after the board of education heard a presentation by SfL+a Architects that proposed closing six area elementary schools.

Anyone interested in running for one of the three Board of Education seats has until Friday, Aug. 19 at 12 noon to do so. Those interested in filing must live in the area in which they plan to run. Candidates should file at the Rowan County Board of Elections, in Suite D10 at West End Plaza, 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd., West. There is a $5 filing fee.

Up for election this year are:

Seat 5 (Salisbury area), occupied by Hughes.

Seat 3 (east area), occupied by Wagner.

Seat 7 (southeast area), occupied by Cox.

Direct filing questions to 704-216-8140.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.