All incumbent commisssioners file

Polk County residents have until tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 28 to file for local offices.

Filing can be done at the Polk County Board of Elections Office until noon on Friday, Feb. 28.

All incumbents for the Polk County Board of Commissioners have filed for re-election, along with three newcomers.

Incumbent commissioners Ray Gasperson (D), Keith Holbert (R) and Ted Owens (R) have all filed, along with newcomers Jake Johnson (R), Bill Ingham (D) and Lee Mink (D).

Others who have filed include Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill (D) and challenger Pat Staggs (R) as well as three out of four incumbent Polk County Board of Education members, one unopposed newcomer and two challengers so far.

For the Polk County Board of Education, incumbents Geoff Tennant (Columbus), Sherry Page (Green Creek) and Judy Jackson (Coopers Gap) have filed as well as newcomers Jim Patterson (Tryon) and Coopers Gap challenger Kevin Seay and Green Creek challenger Jeff Weaver.

Incumbent board of education member James Cowan has not filed for re-election representing one of Tryon’s two seats on the board.

Other open county seats include the Polk County Clerk of Superior Court, with incumbent Pam Hyder (D) filing with no challengers so far.

As of Wednesday, Feb. 26 no primary election will be needed for local offices.

With three candidates for both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party filing for three open seats on the board of commissioners, those candidates will be the nominees if no one else files. If one more for either party files before the deadline, a primary election will be held on May 6 to narrow candidates for each party to three candidates.

A primary election will be necessary for the sheriff and clerk offices as well, if more than one candidate files representing each party.

Other offices up for re-election this year include for U.S. Congress 10th district, 47th state senate, 113 state house, 29-B district attorney, supreme court chief justice, supreme court associate justice, court of appeals, 29-B superior court judge and two seats on the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, with filing for the soil and water scheduled for June 9-July 7.

The Polk County Board of Elections has information regarding this year’s election on its website, including a link to download forms for candidacy. The board of elections is also updating a list of those who have filed for office so far. For the list and other information visit polknc.org under the board of elections department icon or call 828-894-8181 for more information.

Filing for local offices can be done at the Polk County Board of Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Womack building in downtown Columbus from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. today (Thursday) or until noon on Friday.

Filing for state offices must be done at the state board of elections office in Raleigh.