Clock strikes noon for candidates

The Craven County Board of Elections office buzzed as the clock approached noon, the opening bell of the 2010 election season.

True to his promise, Republican Craven County Commissioner Lee Kyle Allen of Havelock was first in line to file for another term representing District 6.

“This is still exciting,” said Allen, who arrived to sign in at 10:30 a.m. He is the longest serving Craven commissioner, elected in 1994 after serving as a Havelock commissioner for 11 years. 

Allen was followed quickly in filing by three other well-know incumbents – N.C. Rep. Alice Underhill, D-Craven, Craven County Clerk of Superior Court Janette Cahoon and Craven County Sheriff Jerry Monette.

Not far behind were two western Craven County Republicans – Jeffrey Lee French of Cove City and John Percy Wetherington Jr. of Dover. Both filed for the District 2 Craven County Board of Commissioners seat, insuring a May 4 primary for at least one party.

With that, the 2010 election officially started.

Candidate filing started on Monday and runs through Feb. 26. Those wishing can plop down filing fees and try their hands at elected office.

All Craven County Board of Commissioner seats are up for election this year, as is the Craven County School Board. All N.C. House and N.C. Senate seats will also be on the ballot as are U.S. House seats and the state’s U.S. Senate seat currently held by Richard Burr.

The primary election is set for May 4. Any runoff, if necessary, would be June 22. The general election is set for Nov. 2.

On the Craven County Board of Commissioners, Democrat Jason Jones, who holds the District 2 seat on the board, has said he won’t seek re-election. All other commissioners have indicated they will seek another term, including Theron McCabe, who represents eastern Craven County and parts of Havelock.

Monette said he has heard he will face a primary challenge, and elections board paperwork verifies that a Democrat has formed a campaign committee to run for sheriff.

Monette waited in line and looked at the clock as it approached noon.

“It might be a cuckoo clock,” he joked.

“I meet a lot of good potential candidates who will shy away in this political climate. The public gets upset and doesn’t know who to get upset with.”

But Monette, who had to ante up $886 for his bid for another term, said, “I feel like I have strong bipartisan support. I’m everybody’s sheriff.”

Cahoon’s filing fee for a third term in the clerk’s post was $824, and she has so far run unopposed to head up the office where she worked for more than 25 years before seeking office.

“My job is a challenge; I love it,” Cahoon said. “My experience is valuable and my staff’s (experience) is invaluable. We are here to serve the public and treat everybody the same.” 

Filing for Underhill cost $217. She expects Republican opposition from Havelock businessman and Pamlico County resident Norman Sanderson for another term representing District 3 in the N.C. House.

“I’m anxious to continue to serve the citizens of Craven and Pamlico counties, particularly during these difficult economic times, as the state recovers from the recent recession,” she said.

The low number of first day filers did get the attention of Erin Burridge, Craven County Board of Elections director.

“It was a lot slower than we thought it would be,” Burridge said. “We anticipated that it would be a rush today.”