Robbinsville – At long last, candidate filing for 2022 elections concluded at noon Friday.
Locally, candidates turned out in droves for both the sheriff’s and board of commissioners races. Several filed for the Graham County Board of Education, while a pair of races will go uncontested.
Below is a complete list of local candidates that filed:
* Board of Commissioners: Van Adams, Lynn Cody (incumbent), Jacob Nelms (incumbent), Logan Johnson, Andy Lynn, Cassie Phillips, Dale Wiggins (incumbent), Natasha Williams (all Republicans); Scott Hooper, Jeff Millsaps and Kent Williams (Democrats).
* Board of Education: Chip Carringer (incumbent), Debra Hank Dinschel and Hans Koeller (all Republicans); Shane Garland (incumbent) and Maria Shook (both Democrats).
* Clerk of Court: Tammy Holloway (incumbent), Democrat.
* Register of Deeds: Kimberly LeQuire (Incumbent), Republican.
* Sheriff: Leon Allen Jr., Dennis Crisp, Jerry Crisp (incumbent), Kevin Guffey, Chase Lancaster, Louanne Jenkins McMahan, Russell Moody (all Republicans); Brad Hoxit, Unaffiliated.
Additionally, Karen McCracken (Democrat) filed Friday for the N.C. Senate’s District 50 post, which is held by Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin).
Republicans in the hunt for the boards of commissioners and education – as well as sheriff – will all appear on the primary ballot in May, with the top vote-getter moving to the general election in November. The Graham Star plans to hold a candidate Q&A for the primary candidates before early voting begins.
Disagreements over newly redrawn legislative maps forced an 11-week hiatus in the filing period. The pause began Dec. 8 and ended Feb. 24. Prior to the stall, more than 1,600 candidates had filed for the 2022 ballot at either the local or state levels.
Early voting
Before casting a ballot, constituents have until Friday, April 22, to change their voter registration.
The start date for one-stop (early) primary voting is 8 a.m. Thursday, April 28. The polls will close at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14, with the primary election itself taking place Tuesday, May 17.
Two shifts of poll workers will be available for the lengthy weekday voting sessions, which last until 7:30 p.m. On the first two Saturdays, the polls will be open until 1 p.m.
Early voting will be conducted at the Graham County Community Building, 196 Knight St., to ensure COVID-19 protocols are followed.