By Dan E. Way

dway@heraldsun.com; 419-6654

CHAPEL HILL — Hillsborough Police Chief Clarence Birkhead has filed to run for Orange County sheriff in this year’s Democratic primary on May 4. Incumbent Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass did not file on Monday, the first day allowed by law to submit candidacy papers to the Orange County Board of Elections, nor did other challengers for sheriff. Filers have until noon Feb. 26 to turn in their paperwork.

Birkhead was one of four challengers to file paperwork. Six incumbents filed for re-election. Eight of the 10 filing candidacy papers were Democrats. The other two filers are running in the nonpartisan Orange County Board of Education race.

This year’s General Election will be on Nov. 2. Filing for elected office on Monday were:

Orange Co. Commission

- Incumbent Alice Gordon, representing the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area said she is running because she would like to build on her contributions to county government, and cited environmental advocacy, regional transportation, and school excellence as three areas in which she has made a difference.

She said she will work on these and other county issues in a fiscally responsible way and strive to maintain important county services that support the county’s core values, while recognizing that the county has significant budget constraints. “The county must increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations, and strive to streamline county services to reduce expenses,” she said.

- In announcing his re-election bid, at-large Commissioner Barry Jacobs said: “I remain firmly committed to quality public education and environmental stewardship; to social justice and a compassionate safety net for those least able to help themselves; to government that is cost-effective and customer-oriented; to meaningful support for sustainable economic development; and to proactive partnerships within and beyond our county in education and library services, transportation and national resource protection, agricultural enhancement and solid waste management, land-use planning and improved service delivery.”

- Earl McKee is running for the District 2 seat.

“We must expand the tax base in Orange County. With two major interstates, a main rail-line with passenger as well as freight service, and several top universities within driving distance, there is no reason that well paying, low-impact companies should not be encouraged to locate in Orange County,” McKee said. “We must streamline our planning and permitting-process, extend sewer and water into existing economic development districts along the major transportation corridors so that some project-ready areas are available.”

Orange County Schools

- Will Atherton will run for Orange County School board. He has a background in education as a student, instructor and higher education teacher.

Some of the key areas of interest he cited include: education accountability; accountability with regular assessments and reviews; focusing on closing the achievement gap; evolve programs for at-risk kids; promote policies to ensure a safe and secure learning environment; focus measurable results in the classroom and in the Central Office; fiscal responsibility.

Debbie Piscitelli, who previously announced her re-election plans, also filed Monday.

Other filings

Incumbent James C. Stanford will seek re-election as clerk of court, Bill Faison will seek re-election to state House District 50, Verla Insko will seek re-election to state House District 56, and Deborah B. Brooks will run for register of deeds.

Chatham County

“We’ve got all our three sitting county commissioners up for re-election and all came in” to file, said Elections Director Dawn Stumpf. They are George Lucier, Tom Vanderbeck and Carl E. Thompson Sr., all Democrats.

“We had two Republicans file for county commissioner in District 3,” Stumpf said, noting that it is unusual to see that many Republicans file. “In Chatham County, yes it is.” The challengers who filed to run against Lucier are Brian Bock and Cadle W. Cooper.

Also filing in Chatham County were Roger Gerber, for state Senate District 18; Sam Cooper, for clerk of court; and Martin Pinnock, for Chatham County Schools Board of Education District 3.