Large Turnout Unlikely for Primaries

Election signs on Monticello Road in Pinehurst

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Moore County voters will choose candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state Senate, county commissioner, school board and the judiciary at the polls Tuesday.

Despite spirited races for Congress, election officials are not predicting a heavy turnout for the primary elections.

Proof of that is found at the one-stop absentee polling place, where Elections Director Glenda Clendenin said fewer than 700 voters had marked ballots by Friday — nothing like the frenzy during the presidential election two years ago when thousands voted early.

Moore County had 60,123 registered voters as of April 9, the day the Board of Elections closed the books to prepare for the primary. A few registrants have been added during the one-stop period, but same-day voter registration is not permitted on Election Day.

Polling places will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Clendenin said there are no changes in polling places or procedures on Election Day.

“However, we do want to remind everyone that this is a primary election, and voters must tell us their political party affiliation at the polling place,” she said. Voters are not asked their party affiliation in the general elections in November.

The county has 16,004 unaffiliated registrants who may, if they wish, participate in either the Republican or the Democratic primaries. Otherwise, their voting on Tuesday will be confined to candidates for three at-large seats on the nonpartisan Board of Education and state judicial candidates, also nonpartisan.

Unaffiliated voters will be required to choose the same party if they wish to vote in a second primary election.

Clendenin said a runoff election is not expected, but in the event a second primary is called, it will take place on June 22.

“I hope we have a safe, fair and good election and expect that spirit to continue into Nove-mber,” said Ansol E. Graham, chairman of the Moore County elections board. “Our staff and the board have worked very hard, and I hope everything will be as good as it has been in the past.”

The county’s 25,551 Republicans will choose among four candidates for U.S. Senate and five candidates for the 6th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the races receiving the most attention this election.

GOP Primaries

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is being challenged in the GOP primary by Larry Linney, Brad Jones and Eddie Burks. The victor will face the winner of the Democratic primary, where six candidates are vying for the nomination. They are Marcus W. Williams, Ann Worthy, Elaine Marshall, Ken Lewis, Susan Harris and Cal Cunningham. That is the only Democratic primary race on the ballot.

One of four challengers for incumbent Congressman Howard Coble’s seat is a Moore County resident, Dr. James Taylor. The other challengers are Jeff Phillips, Cathy Brewer Hinson and Billy Yow. A sixth candidate, Jon Mangin, recently dropped out of the race, but the ballots had already been printed and it was too late to remove his name.

Closer to home, Republicans have choices for state Senate and the District 3 seat on the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

Richard Morgan, former co-speaker of the state House, is challenging incumbent Sen. Harris D. Blake for the District 22 seat in the state Senate. Both are Republicans. Blake has served in the Senate since 2002. The district also includes Harnett County.

Incumbent County Commissioner Cindy Morgan is being challenged by political newcomer Craig Kennedy.

Winners of the state Senate and county commissioner seats will face no Democratic opposition at the polls in November.

State Rep. Jamie Boles has no opposition for the District 52 seat in the House and his name will not appear on the primary ballot.

Democrats will choose from six candidates for U.S. Senate, but that is the only partisan race on the Democratic ballot. They have one candidate for U.S. House but he is unopposed and his name will not be before the voters until November.

Nonpartisan Races

Democrats and Republicans will join unaffiliated voters in choosing candidates for two seats on the state Court of Appeals and three seats on the Moore County Board of Education. These races are nonpartisan.

The school board election is an elimination contest, because one name will be removed from the ballot in the primary.

Voters must choose three of the seven candidates on the primary election ballot for three at-large seats. The candidate with the smallest number of votes will be eliminated, and the remaining six will return to the ballot in November.

School board candidates are incumbents Susan McKenzie Black, J. Dale Frye and Pam Thompson, and challengers Karen M. Wicker, Enola G. Lineberger, Thomas D. Jones and Ed Dennison.

Other nonpartisan candidates on the Tuesday ballot are: Court of Appeals judge, Mark E. Klass, Jane Grey and Ann Marie Calabria, for one judgeship; and Steven Walker, Rick Elmore, Leto Copeley and Alton D. Bain for the other judgeship.

Contact Florence Gilkeson by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.

More like this story

HolleysLives 3 years ago

Forgive me. I didn't so much as read the article. However, I would like to share with you my new procedure for voting for a candidate. From this point forward, I'm strongly considering voting for the candidate who places the fewest campaign signs (litter) along roadways in Moore County. Those who call me with an automated phone message - forget it! In my 38 years of voting, not once have I selected a candidate based on the number of signs/billboards at intersections and elsewhere. If you're going to vote, at least do some reading and other research. That doesn't mean reading campaign signs while you're supposed to be paying attention to the road.

SCCstudent 3 years ago

Sad day in American Politics with the slate of those running to office again like Boles and Harris who have their own agenda's until next time ~ I wish my dogs could vote. Maybe they would have some compassion when it comes to those puppy mills they voted to send back to finance...a political manuver when they are being paid by NRA contributors.

Howard Coble may not live to serve another term, he's in critrical condition: senile dementia, ambilatory disorientation, and standing with support propped up with PAC money from insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, and hospital conglomerites.

Well Billy Yow is the only candiate who has ever gotten his hands dirty working for a living as opposed to dirty money from PACs who have an interest in swaying votes for bonuses. Who is the next elected politician to bought out? Well two years we might vote the rest out who are running unopposed ~ like Jamie Boles. I LOVE ANIMALS!!! Dislike politicians....

wicker 3 years ago

In the middle of a cluster of signs on Hwy 5, someone made and put their own. It say "vote for no one, let's clean house". I loved it.

EndStatusQuo 3 years ago

SCCstudent got it right....Billy's hands are dirty and he aspires to be your next career politician taking all the handouts he can get his hands on at the expense of the tax payers. BUT...why the mean spirited comment about Mr Coble? Also, wicker....how would voting for "No One" clean house???? it would only result in "Status Quo"......Granted, its a funny sign, but an irresponsible statement made in light of the pending possible demise of America. The only true Constitutionally Conservative principled candidate is Dr. James Taylor, the only one to sign a Bonded term limit, the only one that pledged to refuse the Congressional insurance and pension plans and serve the citizens of the 6th district in the spirit of America's Founding Fathers. Please vote for James Taylor for Congress 6th district on May 4th!

njnqueen 3 years ago

Actually, the sign reads "re-elect no one, send a message". In other words, get rid of the old stinking out-of-touch career politicians--and put in people who are in touch with the needs of the people they are representing.

SCCstudent 3 years ago

@EndStatusQuo=> soothsayer, so you can predict that Mr. Yow will follow the Washington crowd according to what? Mr. Feeble-minded Coble has proven to be a money grabber just take a look at http://www.opensecrets.com That's not forecasting what might happen as opposed to what did happen. Look at the money chart for Richard Burr; he takes "payoff" to a new level since he received the most from insurance and pharmaceuticals than anyone else in Washington. NC can be proud that we have been sold out by those elected to represent our interests....

At least Billy Yow knows what it is like to rise before daylight and work until dark-thirty supporting his family as well as others in his employment. As a small business owner, he is aware of what it takes to try and operate a small business with an out of control IRS. Who takes and takes and takes....maybe he will support a FairTax option?

citizen 3 years ago

@ HolleysLives: I hear ya! I get back from a weekend out of state, check my voicemail messages, and I find that over half of them are recorded messages from office-seekers. This vote-getting strategy smacks of desperation and reeks of being out of touch with the average person.