By Clay Abernathy
ALBEMARLE — As the 2018 election filing season nears its close, many of Stanly County’s elected representatives will face primary and general election challenges.
N.C. House Rep. Justin Burr (R-Stanly) made his re-election bid official as he has filed for a sixth term representing the 67th District which includes Stanly and Montgomery counties. Wayne Sasser, of Albemarle, has also filed for the seat and will face Burr in the May GOP primary. Michael Finn, a Libertarian, has also entered the race for District 67.
In the N.C. Senate, Rep. Carl Ford (R-Cabarrus, Rowan) will give up his seat in the lower chamber to face Bill Sorenson, of Norwood, in the Republican primary for Senate District 33, which includes Rowan and Stanly counties. Jedadiah Goss, of Kannapolis, had previously filed for the seat, but withdrew his name last week.
Rick Burris, who previously served two terms as Stanly County’s sheriff, has filed to run for sheriff again. Burris, who was Stanly County’s last Democrat to hold county-wide office, has switched parties and will join incumbent Sheriff George T. Burris, Jeff Crisco, of Oakboro, and Jonathan Barbee, of Stanfield, in the Republican primary in May.
As of press time, Rep. Ken Goodman remained unopposed in the Democratic primary for House District 66 and no Republican candidates have filed for the seat.
With only a day left in the filing period, four of the five seats on the County Commission will have a GOP primary. No Democrats have filed to run for the Stanly County Commission. Commission Chairman Joseph Burleson will face Thomas Swartz Jordan III in District 3. Incumbent Janet Lowder will face Michael Lane Furr for the at-large spot. Commissioner Bill Lawhon will face Joe Speight for the District 2 seat, and Commissioner Scott Efird is being challenged by Mike Barbee, who previously served on the Stanly County School Board, in District 1. Mark Hendrick has filed for District 4 seat currently held by Commission Vice Chairman Gene McIntyre, who has not yet filed but has indicated that he intends to seek re-election.
Stanly County Clerk of Superior Court Michael Huneycutt has been challenged by Michael Greene, of Albemarle, in the GOP primary.
