By MIKE HELM

Filing for political office begins today (Monday) at noon at the Board of Elections office in Whiteville and continues through Feb. 28. A number of state and local offices are on the ballot, including races for three county commission seats, district attorney and sheriff.

Some candidates have already announced they will seek office, while others are staying silent until filing begins.

State Rep. Dewey Hill will queue up early today to carry on his tradition of being the first candidate to file. Two years ago, Hill was momentarily distracted, causing him to be second to file, but the senior legislator still outpolled his challenger for the 20th District House seat.
The 20th District includes all of Columbus and parts of rural western Brunswick County.

Hill is running for his 8th term in the House and said his seniority has given him influence with the House leadership and powerful positions on House committees.

“I’m running because of my love of Columbus County and the part of Brunswick County that I represent,” Hill said. “There’s a lot of work to be done. I enjoy it. I love what I do. I feel that … I can accomplish something for the district.”

Hill chairs the House Agriculture Committee and said bringing agribusiness to the county is a top priority. At the recent political stumping in Fair Bluff, Hill sported a Dole Food hat. Dole is opening a plant in Kannapolis and would draw on acreage in Columbus County to grow fruit. There was also the announcement last week that Ever Fresh, a Korean-based soybean packing company, would open a plant in Whiteville that would draw on up to 150,000 acres of soybean.

Hill said that healthcare, Medicaid and prescription drug costs would be big issues this session.

“We have to do something about Medicaid costs,” he said. Hill also is so far unopposed, although he said he expects both Democrat and Republican challengers.

State Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. will face Brunswick County Republican Shirley Babson, unless other candidates file.

In the sheriff’s race, no one has yet stepped forward to challenge one-term incumbent Chris Batten.

District Attorney Rex Gore, a four-term incumbent, faces a Democrat primary challenge from former federal prosecutor Alexis Jane “A.J.” Prease. New Hanover County Assistant District Attorney Jon David, a Republican, will face the winner in November. David resides in Brunswick County. The 13th Judicial District includes Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus counties.

County Commissioner David Dutton faces a primary challenge from Ronald Gore, a Nakina resident and long-time maintenance director for Columbus County Schools. The winner of the Democrat primary would face Republican Sammy Hinson in November. Hinson will resign as president of the non-partisan grassroots political group Columbus County Citizens for Better Government to run for the Board of Commissioners.

County Commissioner Kip Godwin has announced that he won’t seek re-election in District 6. Beaverdam resident and former county commissioner David McPherson will square off against Ricky Bullard, a county school board member and Cerro Gordo resident, in the Democrat primary May 2. The winner will face Fair Bluff farmer Howell Strickland, who is running as an independent in November.

County Commissioner Amon McKenzie, who represents one of two minority districts in the county, so far hasn’t had an opponent step forward.

District Court Judges Jerry Jolly and Tom Aldridge are running for re-election and Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bill Gore is seeking one of four open seats on the state Supreme Court.

County Coroner Linwood Cartrette is seeking re-election, as is Clerk of Court Sheila Pridgen.