Randolph races feature competitive contests

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

Jan. 3—RANDOLPH COUNTY — Voters in Randolph County will decide competitive races for a series of local offices in this year's elections.

Voters will cast ballots for two of the five seats on the Randolph County Board of Commissioners.

In District 5 GOP commissioner Maxton McDowell will face a primary challenge from fellow Republicans Lester Rivenbark and Chris McLeod. The winner will take on Democrat Jane Ledwell-Grant in the general election.

District 1 Republican Kenny Kidd doesn't face a primary challenge but will square off against Democrat Bill McCaskill in the general election.

Candidates for the board of commissioners run in the district where they reside, but the races are all decided by voters countywide.

The members of Randolph County's legislative delegation all face Democratic challengers, but there will be only one primary.

Two Democrats — Donna Vanhood of Burlington and John Coleman of Burlington — are running for the nomination to face Republican state Sen. Amy Galey in the 25th District, which includes northwestern Randolph County.

Sen. Dave Craven, R-Randolph, will take on Democrat Kevin Clark of Rockingham in Senate District 29. Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph, in House District 70 will go up against Democrat Susie Scott of Asheboro, who has made previous state legislative bids. Neal Jackson, R-Randolph, will take on Democrat Lowell Simon of Seven Lakes in House District 78.

Democratic challengers face daunting odds running in rock-solid Randolph County, where Democratic candidates haven't won a partisan race for several decades. But the N.C. Democratic Party made a concerted effort to field candidates statewide for legislative and county contests this year.

In the nonpartisan Randolph County Board of Education race, three incumbents and two challengers are running for four seats on the seven-member board. Incumbent Mike Sink didn't file.

The candidates for the general election are incumbents Sharon Petty Farlow, Tracy Boyles and Gary Cook and challengers Rana Gantt and Todd Cutler.

Three local races aren't competitive. Republican Randolph County District Attorney Andy Gregson is unopposed in the primary and general election, as are Republican District Court Judges Barron Thompson and Rob Wilkins.

Voters will settle party primaries on March 5, with early voting beginning Feb. 15. The general election is Nov. 5.

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