mmilliken@heraldsun.com; 419-6684
DURHAM — Five metaphorical hats were tossed into five metaphorical rings over the first hour of candidate filing for the 2010 elections.
Archie Smith III filed to run for a third term as clerk of courts, Worth Hill filed to run for a fifth term as sheriff and Fred Foster filed to run for the N.C. House 55 seat currently occupied by Winkie Wilkins. The incumbents and Foster are all Democrats.
Also in the first hour, Omega Curtis Parker filed to run for a second term holding the school board 1A seat and Nancy Cox filed to run for school board 3B. Incumbent Kirsten Kainz had previously announced that she would not seek a second term as the 3B representative. School board races are nonpartisan.
Around a quarter to noon, Smith and a judicial hopeful were the only candidates on hand, although a “team leader” for Foster’s campaign was awaiting his arrival.
Mike Ashe, the director of the Durham Board of Elections, told Smith that he would be first to be registered once the clock struck noon. But Ashe changed his tune when he saw a law enforcement vehicle enter the parking lot.
“Hey Archie, the sheriff just drove in,” Ashe said jokingly. “We have a rule — you go to the head of the line if you got a gun.”
When the big and little hands of the clock on the wall of the elections office lobby met, Ashe made an announcement.
“Filing is open for 2010,” he told the assembled group, which by then included Hill, Foster, Parker, a reporter and a photographer.
Smith stepped into Ashe’s office and Hill went down the hall with Michael Perry, the deputy elections director, to fill out the filing papers.
When Smith was done, Ashe had another announcement.
“You are legal, sir,” Ashe said, standing up.
“Thank you very much,” Smith replied.
“Assuming your check clears,” Ashe wisecracked. Smith, whose office handles all the money that goes through the Durham County courts, chuckled.
The elections director then told the court clerk that he appreciated the willingness of Durham residents to engage in public service. “And win, lose or draw, I hope the journey brings you joy,” Ashe said.
Things quieted down after the first five candidates. But even though Ashe had expected more early filings, he was pleased with the situation.
“Make sure your headline is ‘Democracy is alive and well in Durham,’” he said. “It is happening here.”
A number of judicial candidates submitted filing papers through the Durham office prior to Monday. Kerry Sutton and Steven Storch, both attorneys seeking election to the District Court seat from which Ann McKown is retiring, visited the office around noon.
This technically did not make any of them registered candidates. By state law, would-be judges must file through the State Board of Elections headquarters in Raleigh. Ashe had previously volunteered to take paperwork to the capital city Monday afternoon.
