Early voting launches for municipal races

Early voting began last week for the fall’s municipal elections.

The early voting period started slightly more than a week after the primary that was held in Asheboro to determine those on the ballot for the city’s mayor and council races.

Now, voters in Asheboro will make choices for mayor, city council and the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education.

For mayor, council members Eddie Burks and Joey Trogdon advanced from a four-person primary. For city council, there are four open seats with eight candidates — Phillip Cheek, Kelly Heath, Bill McCaskill, Joel McClosky, Mary Joan Pugh, Phil Skeen, Dave Thomas and Pamela Vuncannon — left after the primary.

The board of education needs two spots filled among candidates Michael Brown, Mikayla Cassidy, Hilda DeCortez and Brad Thomas.

** Franklinville has Ben Harman running uncontested for mayor, while there are four candidates on the ballot for three town commissioner positions.

** In Liberty, sitting mayor Filmore York is unopposed, while four candidates (Terry Caviness, Larry Coble, Rebekkah Glass, Tyson Nixon) are running for three town commissioner positions.

** Ramseur has three candidates (Diana Brower, Jesse Hembree, David Neve) listed on the ballot for two town commissioner spots.

** In Randleman, J.W. Gaster is challenging Gary Betts Sr. for mayor. Incumbent Melissa Blalock is trying to hold the Alderman Ward 2 spot with a challenge from Craig Hancock, while incumbent Nancy Henderson is unopposed in Ward 3.

** Seagrove mayor David Fernandez is the lone person the ballot for mayor, while voters can make two selections among Kevin McBride, Jeremy Steinhart, Ed Walker and Sandra Walker for town commissioner.

** Staley mayor Karen Scotten is unopposed in a reelection bid. There are five positions on the ballot for town commissioner, with candidates Brooke Boswell, Renee Harrelson, Faye Johnson, Lori Lynn Langley and Sherri Martin.

** Thomasville has a small sliver of population in Randolph County. JacQuez Johnson, Wendy Sellars and Raleigh York Jr. are on the ballot for mayor, while 11 candidates are vying for four positions on city council.

Early voting continues from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday of this week and then from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 27-31 and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 1. Early voting takes place at the Randolph County Board of Elections at 1457 North Fayetteville St. in Asheboro.

Voting on Election Day (Nov. 4) must be done at assigned precincts. Polling places are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

There are some adjustments for the municipal elections. Asheboro voters who live in the Back Creek voting precinct will go to Asheboro Recreation Center and voters in the Union Grove voting precinct will use the National Guard Armory.

Randleman voters in the Level Cross voting precinct must go to First United Methodist Church in Randleman. Thomasville voters in Randolph County will use the Trinity voting precinct.

Of the 447 cities, towns and villages conducting elections this fall, all except 67 municipalities chose to use early and absentee voting.