By Mary Catherine Brooks
Wyoming County Bureau Chief
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Candidate filings for the May 8 primary election continued to trickle in last week. By Wednesday afternoon, W. Richard “Rick” Staton, incumbent, had filed to retain the prosecuting attorney office.
Joining the incumbents is John Daniels, of Pineville, who filed for the county commission seat. Both Staton and Daniels are Democrats.
The deadline to file is Jan. 28 and the county clerk’s office will be open from noon until midnight on that date for those who want to file for an office.
The county ballot will include the District 2 county commission seat, sheriff, assessor, prosecuting attorney, and the three magistrate seats. A separate, non-partisan ballot includes District 1 and District 3 board of education seats.
Silas Mullins Jr., the current District 2 county commissioner, filed earlier to retain his seat. Mullins is a Democrat.
Mike E. Cook, also a Democrat and the incumbent, filed to hold the assessor’s seat.
Cook was the first to file for any office Monday when the filings opened, according to Mike Goode, county clerk who serves as the chief election officer.
Sheriff Randall Aliff, also a Democrat, filed Monday as well.
Current magistrates Craig Cook, J.R. Boles, and Kim Farmer, all Democrats, also filed to retain their seats.
In the primary election, voters cast their ballots within party lines; Democrats select a nominee, Republicans make their selections, etc.
Party nominees from the primary election then face-off in the November general election.
On the separate board of education ballot, Perry Cook, District 3, and Mike Prichard, District 1, both filed to keep their seats.
Board of education winners will take office July 1, while all other candidates will not take office until Jan. 1, 2013.
