Filing begins for 2024 elections

Paul B. Johnson, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·4 min read

Dec. 4—HIGH POINT — Candidate filing for the 2024 elections got off to a brisk start Monday as incumbents and challengers made their bids official for an array of area races.

Filing for congressional, statewide, judicial and county offices continues through noon Dec. 15. Any political party primaries that are needed will be held March 5.

Among races for local legislative districts:

—State Rep. Ashton Clemmons, D-Guilford, filed for reelection in House District 57, which covers northern Greensboro and outlying sections of Guilford County. Clemmons is seeking her fourth term and serves as deputy leader of the N.C. House Democratic Caucus.

—State Sens. Steve Jarvis, R-Davidson, and Dave Craven, R-Randolph, and Reps. Larry Potts, R-Davidson, and Brian Biggs, R-Randolph, filed for reelection.

—Guilford County Democratic Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen filed for reelection.

—State Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, filed for his sixth term representing House District 60. He is one of two High Point residents in the 170-member N.C. General Assembly, and his district covers a significant portion of High Point.

In Guilford County, voters also will cast ballots for four seats each on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and Guilford County Board of Education.

The commissioner seats are District 4 in eastern Guilford County, currently served by Democrat Mary Beth Murphy, who filed for a second term Monday; District 6 in north High Point and southwestern Guilford County, served by Democrat Brandon Gray-Hill, who filed Monday; District 8 in central Greensboro, served by Democrat and board Chairman Skip Alston, who filed Monday; and District 5 in northern Greensboro and northern Guilford County, served by Democrat Carly Cooke.

The school board seats on the ballot next year are District 1, covering parts of High Point, served by Democrat T. Dianne Bellamy Small, who filed Monday; District 3 in northwestern Guilford County, served by Republican Michael Logan, who filed Monday; District 5 in northern Greensboro and northern Guilford County, served by Democrat Deborah Napper; and District 7 in eastern Greensboro, served by Democrat Bettye Jenkins, who filed Monday. Also filing Monday was Republican Cara Dohner, who will run against Napper in District 5.

Democrats hold a 7-2 advantage on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and a 6-3 advantage on the school board.

One Guilford County Board of Education race that's been engrossed in a nearly yearlong political controversy will feature an unaffiliated candidate for the fall 2024 general election. Though he did not file on Monday, former school board member Bill Goebel told The High Point Enterprise on Monday that he's collecting signatures to run as an unaffiliated candidate against Logan for the District 3 seat.

Goebel was appointed earlier this year as a Republican by the Democratic majority on the school board after the Democrats rejected Logan's appointment. Logan was backed by the Guilford County Republican Party, but the Democrats on the school board said social media posts by Logan made him an inappropriate candidate.

Logan and Guilford County GOP leaders both sued and sought legislation in the Republican-controlled N.C. General Assembly, and a bill was passed that required the board to appoint Logan. The Guilford County Republican Party also drummed Goebel out of the party.

In Randolph County voters will settle races for two of the five seats on the Randolph County Board of Commissioners and four of the seven seats on the Randolph County Board of Education.

The commissioner seats up for election are held by Republicans Kenny Kidd in District 1 and Maxton McDowell in District 5. On Monday Republican challengers Chris McCloud and Lester Rivenbark filed for District 5.

The nonpartisan school board seats are held by Tracy Boyles, Gary Cook, Sharon Petty Farlow and Michael Sink.

In Davidson County voters will decide contests for three of the seven seats on the Davidson County Board of Commissioners. The seats are held by Republicans Fred McClure, James Shores and Todd Yates. On Monday Republican challengers Dexter Short of Lexington, Doug Hunt of Thomasville and Sandra Motley of Denton filed to run.

Candidate filing for the nonpartisan Davidson County Board of Education will take place from June 3 through July 5, according to the county elections board.

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul