An additional city council candidate in Burlington, the fifth, has triggered a primary election for the two available city council seats that will be held one month prior to the November 2 general election. Retired police officer Wendy Jordan filed Tuesday for a city council seat, joining one incumbent and three other candidates who had already filed.
Former city manager Harold Owen who has served one term has filed for re-election; joining him are former county commissioner Bob Byrd; and newcomers Charlie Beasley and Dejuana Warren Bigelow.
A primary on October 5 will whittle the five candidates (and any additional candidates) for Burlington city council to the top four who will face off in November.
A primary has already been assured in the mayor’s race which has four candidates thus far. Incumbent mayor Ian Baltutis now faces three challengers: Walter Boyd, Donna Vanhook, and Caleb J. Massey, who filed Tuesday.
Filing for all municipal offices ends at noon on Friday.
Meanwhile, in Graham, first-term incumbent Melody Wiggins has filed for re-election Monday; also filing for a council seat Monday was Bobby Chin, a member of the city’s planning board, and Joey Parsons. They join Daniel Alvis and Edith J. Montoya. Graham does not have a primary system, however, so the five will face off for the two seats on this year’s ballot.
Meanwhile, council members Chip Turner and Jennifer Talley are both running for mayor of Graham. Long-time mayor Jerry Peterman is not seeking re-election.
In Elon, alderwoman Emily Sharpe, who is up for re-election, instead filed on Monday to run for mayor. She faces Michael Woods, who filed last week; Woods ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the board of aldermen in 2019, placing fifth among the five candidates for three seats that year. Long-time mayor Jerry Tolley opted not to seek re-election.
In the Village of Alamance, Elizabeth Powell, who has been advocating for more enforcement of the speed limit along NC 62 through the village has filed for a seat on the board of aldermen.
Naydine Sharpe filed for re-election to the board of aldermen. Two other incumbents – Mike Baldwin and Gayle Andrews – have not filed; however, Philip C. Cheap and Lacey Steger have filed.
Also joining an already crowded ballot in Mebane is Katie Burkholder, who filed on Monday. She joins incumbent Tim Bradley, former planning department employee Montreena W. Hadley, Charles Lopez, and Jonathan White in seeking one of three seats on the city council.
Other incumbents, Everette Greene and Jill Auditori, are not seeking re-election.
See earlier coverage from last week’s edition here: https://alamancenews.com/2021-campaigns-competitive-mayor-races-in-burlington-graham/
