The field of congressional candidates widened this week, but the local picture remained static as the Friday noon filing deadline approaches.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, filed Monday for his second term, and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, a Democrat, also filed Monday to oppose him. Both had previously announced their intentions to run.

The field is already crowded. Marshall is the fourth Democrat to enter the field and joins Marcus Williams, of Lumberton, Ken Lewis, of Chapel Hill, and Cal Cunningham, of Lexington. Republicans who have filed are Brad Jones, of Lake Toxaway, and Eddie Burks, of Asheboro. One Libertarian, Michael Beitler, of Oak Ridge, has also filed.

And incumbent Congressman Howard Coble's opposition grew with the entry of a fourth Republican, Cathy Brewer Hinson, of High Point, and the first Democrat, Gregory Scott Turner, of Salisbury. Dr. James Taylor, of Southern Pines, and Billy Yow, of Greensboro, are the other Republican candidates for Coble's 6th District seat in Congress.

QUIET - Things have been quiet in the Moore County Board of Elections office since the flurry of filing shortly after the filing period opened Feb. 8.

Incumbents have filed for all seats to be filled this year, and they have been joined by two challengers for seats on the nonpartisan Board of Education.

County Elections Director Glenda Clendenin said she has received a couple of inquiries from Democrats, one of whom hinted that he might file for a seat on the Board of Commissioners.

As of midday Tuesday, state Sen. Harris Blake and state Rep. Jamie Boles, both Republicans, remained unopposed for their respective legislative seats. State House Speaker Joe Hackney of Chapel Hill has one Republican opponent, Cathy Wright, of Chapel Hill. Hackney's 54th House District includes one and a half precincts in Moore County.

Friday at noon is the deadline to file for election.

COBLE - After spending the weekend resting at his home in Greensboro, Congressman Howard Coble returned to Washington on Monday to resume his congressional duties.

Coble was discharged Friday from High Point Regional Hospital, where he was admitted after a fainting spell on Thursday. He spent the night in the hospital and underwent a round of tests, including an EKG and a CT-scan, a stress test, echocardiogram, a carotid arterial ultrasound and an MRI.

Although he banged his head against a wall when he fainted, the cut did not require stitches. The tests were to determine the cause of the fainting spell, which occurred as he was leaving a meeting of the High Point Rotary Club where he had been the guest speaker.

JOKING - Coble was in a joking mood when he left the hospital Friday, according to his chief of staff, Ed McDonald.

Spotting a gathering of the public and members of the media when he was discharged, Coble said it must have been a slow news days for him to receive so much attention.

"I was pleased to see that Tiger Woods bumped me off the front page of the newspapers and off the lead story on the evening news today," Coble said. "I look forward to resuming our congressional duties on Monday and promise to make up for the postponed events this weekend."

Contact Florence Gilkeson at (910) 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.