Republicans race to file for election--No Democrat filings in Stokes the first day

(By Leslie Bray Evans, The Stokes News) - Filing for the 2010 elections opened at noon on Monday in Danbury. Already, signs had begun springing up all over Stokes County, although there were no official candidates until filing began on February 8.

Republican candidates came out in big numbers right off the bat, but no Democrats had registered when the Stokes County Board of Elections office closed on Monday evening. One Democrat did file in Surry County for the Senate seat which covers Surry and Stokes.

Local voters will be casting their ballots on Tuesday, November 2, for a variety of offices: Sheriff, County Commissioner (three available seats), Clerk of Court, NC House of Representatives—91st District, and NC Senate—30th District.

Current sheriff Mike Joyce had announced in the fall that he would not seek re-election after being the longest sitting sheriff in Stokes County history. As of Monday, those seeking to fill Joyce’s shoes are: Barry Lawson, age 54, of Westfield; Stokes County Sheriff’s Department Captain of Patrol Division Mike Marshall, age 46, of Danbury; and Junior Palmer, age 43, of King.