By Staff
From the White House to board of education, candidates seek votes
By CLAUD HODGES
Newsroom Manager
Despite the high-profile presidential race, Election Day presents several other elections to be determined by Beaufort County and other area voters.
For a term to cover the next six years in the U.S. Senate, incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a Republican, is being challenged by Libertarian Christopher Cole and Democrat Kay Hagan.
Thirteen seats in Congress will be decided today by North Carolina voters. Incumbent Rep. G.K. Butterfield, a Democrat, has opposition in the 1st Congressional District from Republican Dean Stephens. Incumbent Rep. Walter Jones’ opponent, Democrat Craig Weber, is seeking Jones’ 3rd Congressional District seat. Jones is a Republican.
Today’s election will choose a new governor for North Carolina. Voters may choose between Republican Pat McCrory, Libertarian Michael Munger and Democrat Beverly Perdue.
Regardless of the gubernatorial outcome, Perdue, who is the state’s sitting lieutenant governor, will vacate her seat in that post. Democrat Walter Dalton, Republican Robert Pittenger and Libertarian Phillip Rhodes are up for election to the lieutenant governor’s seat.
State Sen. Marc Basnight, a Democrat, is running unopposed in today’s election.
Also running unopposed in today’s election is Democrat Arthur Williams, who represents District 6 in the N.C. House of Representatives.
In Beaufort County, four seats are up for grabs on the Board of Commissioners, and five seats on the Board of Education are up for election.
Four incumbents are seeking re-election to the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners, Democrats Robert Cayton and Jerry Langley and Republicans Jay McRoy and Hood Richardson.
Four newcomers are challenging those commissioners for their seats, Republicans Bertie Daniels Arnhols and Del Stutzman and Democrats Stewart Rumley and Sonya Shamseldin.
The election for the five seats on the school board is a nonpartisan race.
Four incumbents are running to retain their positions. Two are unopposed, Eltha Booth, who represents District 1, and John White, who represents District 3.
District 1 representative Robert Belcher is being opposed by Bill Sprenkle. F. Mac Hodges, who represents District 5, is being challenged by David Daniel.
H.E. Boyd, who is the sitting District 9 representative on the school board, did not file for reelection. Teeny Baker Sr. and Mike Isbell are vying to become the new holder of the District 9 seat.
Today’s election will decide North Carolina’s Council of State positions.
For attorney general, voters will mark their ballots for either incumbent Democrat Roy Cooper or Republican Bob Crumley.
Democrat incumbent Secretary of State Elaine Marshall has opposition by Republican Jack Sawyer.
For the state treasurer’s post, which is being vacated by outgoing Democrat Richard Moore and who lost the Democratic nomination for governor to Perdue, the Democratic candidate is Janet Cowell. Bill Daughtridge is the Republican candidate for the office.
Democrat June St. Clair Atkinson and Republican Richard Morgan are vying for the position of state superintendent of public instruction.
Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Ronnie Ansley.
For the state’s insurance commissioner, Democrat Wayne Goodwin, Libertarian Mark McMains and Republican John Odom are running for that job.
Republican Leslie Merritt and Democrat Beth Wood are vying for the state auditor’s post.
Rounding out the Council of State offices, Republican Cherie Berry and Democrat Mary Fant Donnan are on the ballot for labor commissioner.