gchildress@heraldsun.com; 419-6645
When the filing period in Chatham County ended at noon Friday, only three additional candidates had stepped forward to toss their hats into the political ring.
In the County Commissioner District 5 race, Republican Kim Beal of Siler City filed to make a run against Democratic incumbent Carl E. Thompson of Bear Creek. Beal's entry into the race sets up a Republican primary May 4 between Beal and Walter Perry, also of Siler City.
Two candidates also joined the Chatham County Schools Board of Education race. Tina Ford of Sanford filed for election to the board's District 3 seat that will be vacated by Kathie Russell because of a mapping error that placed her in District 3. Russell lives in District 2.
The other candidates in the District 3 race are Jeff Johnson, Martin Pinnock and Del Turner.
Also on Friday, Ilana Dubester of Pittsboro filed for one of two seats up for grabs in school board District 4.
The race will include three other candidates -- Elizabeth Haddix, Gary Leonard, who was appointed to the post to fill the unexpired term of Gerald Totten who died in December, and incumbent Deb McManus, the current school board chairwoman. They will duke it out for two seats in the district race.
Because the school board races are non-partisan there will be no primary elections on May 4.
The contests will be on the ballot for the November General Election.
