Filing for candidacy in 2018: Who, when, where and how

Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 14, 2018

SALISBURY — With talk of congressional and judicial redistricting, uncertainty surrounds legislative and local elections for 2018.

The N.C. General Assembly has been given until Jan. 24 to redraw congressional district maps. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the current district reflect partisan gerrymandering.

Republican lawmakers, in response, have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block enforcement of the lower court’s order.

The request for a stay comes with impending windows to candidates to file. Some filing opens as early as Feb. 12.

While redistricting decisions remain unresolved, here’s what we know about upcoming elections.

For most offices, the filing period is Feb. 12-28.

Candidates can file at either the Rowan County Board of Elections Office or the State Board of Elections Office in Raleigh. A primary will be held on Tuesday, May 8, with the general election to follow on Nov. 6.

Positions open in Rowan County include:

• N.C. Senate District 33: Filing for the state Senate costs $207. Senators hold two-year terms. Previous incumbent senators for Rowan County Dan Barrett, R-34, and Tom McInnis, R-25, will fall outside of our area with 2018 maps.

• N.C. House of Representatives Districts 76, 77 and 83: Candidates can file to represent Districts 76 and 77 for a fee of $207. Representatives hold two-year terms. Incumbents include Carl Ford, R-76, Harry Warren, R-77 and Linda P. Johnson, R-83.

• Rowan County commissioner (three seats): Seats currently held by Greg Edds, Jim Greene and Judy Klusman will be up for election this year. Commissioners serve four-year terms. The cost to file is $131.82.

• Clerk of court: The term is four years. The cost to file is $998.34. The current Clerk of Court is Jeff Barger.

• Register of deeds: The term is four years, and the filing fee is $605.45. John Brindle is the incumbent.

• Sheriff: The office currently is held by Kevin Auten. The term is four years, and the filing fee is $851.92.

• Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, North, South, West and No. 6 special seats: Members serve four-year terms, and the cost to file is $5. Seats currently held by Richard Miller, Dean Hunter, Travis Allen and Jean Kennedy are those up for a vote this year.

• Kannapolis Board of Education, Area 1-Cabarrus seats: Members serve four-year terms. The filing fee is $5. Seats up for elections are those held by Danita Rickard and Daniel Wallace.

• Rowan County district attorney: Candidates must file in Raleigh. The fee is $1,282. District attorneys serve four-year terms. Brandy Cook is the incumbent.

• Congress: All U.S. House seats are up for re-election, including those of local Reps. Ted Budd and Richard Hudson. The terms are for two years. The filing fee is $1,740.

June 11-July 6 filing period

• Rowan County soil and water supervisor, two seats: Filing is at the Rowan County Board of Elections Office. Supervisors hold four-year terms. T filing fee is $5. Incumbents are Ray Horton and Lee A. Menius.

June 18-29 filing period

Because of potential redistricting and judiciary election changes, there will be no primary for the following judicial seats in 2018. Candidates will run in the general election on Nov. 6.

File for the following positions at the state State Board of Elections Office in Raleigh:

• Rowan County District Court judge, four positions, District 19C: The filing fee is $1,167. Judges serve four-year terms. The incumbents are Charlie Brown, Beth S. Dixon, Kevin Eddinger and Jame Randolph.

• N.C. Supreme Court associate justice: Filing costs $1,462. The term is eight years, and the incumbent is Barbara Jackson.

• N.C. Court of Appeals judge, three seats: The filing fee is $1,401. The judges serve for eight years. Incumbents include John S. Arrowood, Ann Marie Calabria and Rick Elmore.

• N.C. Superior Court Judge, District 19C, 6th Division: The fee is $1,326. Terms are six years. The incumbent is Anna Mills Wagoner.