Republican state Rep. Richard Morgan plans to file for re-election, as do at least two of the three county commissioners whose seats must be filled this year.
Paul Helms, chairman of the Moore County Board of Commissioners, says he may file. Commissioner David J. Cummings says he will seek re-election. Both are Republicans.
Commissioner and former Chair-man Michael Holden, has been less clear on his intentions. Holden was unsure last week whether would file.
Under a change in state law, the filing period was delayed a month this year. The filing period runs through noon Friday, March 1. The delay was due to the N.C. General Assembly being late in approving redistricting plans last year.
Because the federal Voting Rights Act applies to most of North Carolina, the U.S. Department of Justice must approve redistricting plans before elections can be held. The federal agency approved the state Senate and state House redistricting maps early last week and decided in favor of the congressional districts Friday.
In addition to filling three seats on the county Board of Commissioners, Moore County voters will elect four members of the nonpartisan school board (District 3 and three at-large seats), sheriff, clerk of court, register of deeds, two seats on the nonpartisan Soil and Water Conservation Board of Supervisors, state representatives and state senators. In state races, voters will chose a successor to retiring U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. Voters will also elect one associate justice of the state Supreme Court, five Court of Appeals judges and one district attorney.
“Why, sure,” said Morgan, when asked if he would be a candidate for re-election to the state House of Representatives.
State Rep. Wayne Goodwin, a Richmond County Democrat, has previously announced that he will be a candidate for re-election. For the first time, Goodwin will be representing several precincts in the southern part of Moore County.
Morgan wants to continue keeping an eye on budget and tax laws.
“I’m always going to be interested in the fiscal policy of the state,” Morgan said. “I don’t like and I don’t think the public likes to pay more taxes. I’ll continue to fight for that and make laws tougher.”
Morgan also wants to continue to serve as an “anti-crime and anti-drug legislator.”
He serves on the Education and Appropriations committees and the subcommittee on education and universities, along with several other committees.
Helms said he was “not 100 percent sure” about his candidacy but indicated that he expects to file for his fifth four-year term as a county commissioner.
“I’m interested in economic development and getting water into our rural areas,” Helms said. “One of these days we’re going to run out of water.”
Helms, who lives in Robbins, is pleased with the good start for the East Moore Water District and wants to work toward development of a North Moore Water District.
Helms said he continues to maintain a keen interest in education and plans to work closely with the Board of Education.
“We’ve got a good working relationship right now, and I want to continue that,” Helms said. “We understand their problems and they understand ours. The schools have building needs that we need to face.”
Cummings is completing his first term on the board.
“It’s been a quick and enjoyable three years,” he said.
Cummings, from Vass, said he is interested in seeing completion of the East Moore Water District, which he helped initiate. He has also enjoyed the opening of Hillcrest Park and plans to continue to work for the public schools and with the Board of Education.
“It’s a ‘we’ thing, not an ‘I’ thing, service on the Board of Commissioners,” Cummings said. “It’s the difference between a politician and a public servant,” Cummings said, placing himself in the public servant category.
All three incumbent county commissioners are Republicans.
Under the state redistricting plan, Moore County will be served by five state senators, and all are expected to seek re-election.
In addition to Sens. Ellie Kinnaird and Howard Lee, who have long represented the 16th District, Moore County will be served by three other Democrats, Sens. Aaron Plyler of Union County and Bill Purcell of Scotland County, representing the 17th District, and David Weinstein of Robeson County, representing the 30th District.
Now that the Justice Department has approved the congressional districts adopted by the legislature, the primary elections will be held in May as usual.
All local candidates may file with the Moore County Board of Elections in Carthage. Candidates for the legislature traditionally file in the county of residence. However, candidates for U.S. Senate and for state and regional judicial offices must file with the State Board of Elections in Raleigh.
