Local News - September 2002

Primary elections come into focus

Clerk’s race, alcohol sales on Sept. 10 ballot

By AL DOZIER, LTN Staff Writer

September 2, 2002 - Get ready for next week’s elections.

It’s not final decision time in most races, but narrowing-down time. The Democrats and the Republicans make their best picks for the November ballot.

But so far, nobody seems really excited.

“It’s kind of quiet,” elections director Judy Caudill said.

It’s a primary that was supposed to have taken place last May, but was put off because of a court battle over reapportionment.

Some of the candidates expect the interest to pick up as ads hit the media this week.

Lincoln County normally has about 40,000 registered voters, more or less, and that’s about where the list is today. Caudill said some 3,000 are inactive voters.

She points out that primary elections don’t rule out non-affiliated voters. They can vote, but they have to choose one of the party primaries. They can’t vote in both.

 The primary date next Tuesday has also been selected as the time for voters to decide if alcoholic beverages should be sold in the county. Of course, this is a non-partisan issue with no party requirements. Residents of the city as well as the county may vote, though the city has already approved alcohol sales within Lincolnton.

Locally, one of the most crowded races is for Lincoln County Clerk of Court. Four Republicans, three Democrats and an independent are seeking the seat. It has been held since 1986 by Pam Huskey, a Democrat who retired earlier this year.

Seeking the Democratic nomination are: Teresa Peeler, who was appointed interim clerk after Husky retired; Alan (Sonny) McSwain, a magistrate; and Patsy Black, vice president and branch manager with Peoples Bank at Triangle Crossing.

Republicans seeking the post are: Jim Hallman, former chairman of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners; Darrell Harkey, Lincoln County Historical Coordinator; Jerry Long, an administrative officer with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office;  and Fred Hatley, an educator in Lincoln County for many years.

The unaffiliated candidate is Janet Carpenter Spears, a legal assistant who will not be on the ballot until September. She had to obtain  nearly 1,600 signatures to get on the ballot.

Because of the shortened election schedule, there will be no run-off in any of the races. The candidate with the largest number of vote will get the party’s nomination.

On the Republican ballot four candidates are seeking two seats on the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners: Dean Lutz, CEO of Lutz Housing; David Pratt, who owns Leonard Alarms; Carrol Mitchem, a farmer and owner of Mitchem’s Kitchen; and James Buddy Funderburk owner of a automotive battery sales business.

Since only two Democrats are seeking the two seats, no primary contest is scheduled.

 The Republican ballot also offers a contest for a state House seat with incumbent Rep. Joe Kiser, R-Vale, facing a challenge from David J. Noles, a farmer.

State Sen. Jim Forrester, R-Stanley, a physician, is seeking re-election in District 42, which now includes Lincoln County and parts of Gaston and Catawba counties. He is opposed by Ronald Pope.

There are also contests for U.S. Senate and for judicial seats.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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