By Sarah Nagem
When Robeson County voters go to the polls on May 17, they choose candidates for everything from county commission to the U.S. Senate, and help set the stage for the midterm elections next fall.
So which primary races are worth keeping an eye on? Here are some key points.
- Two Democrats on the Robeson County Board of Commissioners face challengers in the primary – Faline Locklear and Lance Herndon.
- Charles Graham, a Democrat who currently represents Robeson in the N.C. House of Representatives, is running for Congress. Two Democrats and two Republicans are vying for a chance to fight for the seat in November.
- As a result of redistricting, Charlotte Republican Dan Bishop will no longer represent Robeson County in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. David Rouzer, a Wilmington Republican, is running for the District 7 seat, and he faces one primary challenger. Four Democrats are also vying for a chance to fight for the seat in November.
- No one filed to run against Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins, a Democrat, so he will serve another term in office. The same goes for Robeson County District Attorney Matt Scott, also a Democrat.
- May 17 serves as a general election for the Robeson County school board, so the winning candidates will serve on the board. Two school board members are trying to fend off challengers to keep their seats – Brenda S. Fairley-Ferebee and Linda Emanuel.
- Statewide, a very crowded field of candidates is running for the U.S. Senate, including former N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and U.S. House member Ted Budd, both Republicans, and Democrat Cheri Beasley, former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Incumbent Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, is not seeking re-election.
- Voters in Lumberton and St. Pauls will elect members to their town boards on May 17. Those elections were supposed to take place last year, but the date was changed due to redistricting.
Robeson County has about 70,400 registered voters, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections.
In primary elections, voters must fill out a ballot associated with their registered political party. Unaffiliated voters can choose which party’s ballot to fill out.
Robeson has about 36,500 registered Democrats, 12,300 registered Republicans and 21,300 unaffiliated voters, data shows.
The following candidates will appear on the primary ballot:
Robeson County Board of Commissioners (District 04)
Democrats:
Faline Locklear, Maxton (incumbent)
Sandy (Billy) Bowen, Red Springs
(No Republican primary)
Robeson County Board of Commissioners (District 08)
Democrats:
Lance Herndon, Parkton (incumbent)
Curtis Mabe Sr., Parton
(No Republican primary)
Robeson County Clerk of Superior Court
Democrats:
Jamaica Campbell, Lumberton
Shelena Smith, Pembroke
(No Republican primary)
Robeson County Board of Education (District 02)
Brenda S. Fairley-Ferebee, Maxton (incumbent)
Melissa Ocean, Rowland
Robeson County Board of Education (District 03)
Peggy Wilkins Chavis, Lumberton
Linda Emanuel, Lumberton (incumbent)
Robeson County Board of Education (District 06)
Mike Smith, Red Springs (incumbent)
Robeson County Board of Education (District 08)
Tre’ Britt, Lumberton
U.S. House (District 7)
Democrats:
Charles E. Evans, Fayetteville
Charles Graham, Lumberton
Yushonda Midgette, Winnabow
Steve Miller, Wilmington
Republicans:
David Rouzer, Wilmington (incumbent)
Max Southworth-Beckwith, Currie
N.C. House (District 47)
Democrats:
Aminah Ghaffar, Lumberton
Charles Townsend, Fairmont
Republicans:
Jarrod Lowery, Pembroke
Mickey Biggs, Pembroke
U.S. Senate
Democrats:
James L. Carr, Jr., Harrisburg
Robert Colon, Wallace
Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond, Raleigh
Constance (Lov) Johnson, Charlotte
Tobias LaGrone, Greensboro
B. K. Maginnis, Charlotte
Rett Newton, Beaufort
Marcus W. Williams, Lumberton
Greg Antoine, Fayetteville
Cheri Beasley, Raleigh
Chrelle Booker, Tryon
Republicans:
Marjorie K. Eastman, Cary
David Flaherty, Cameron
Benjamin E. Griffiths,
Kenneth Harper, Jr., Archdale
Pat McCrory, Charlotte
Charles Kenneth Moss, Randleman
Lichia Sibhatu, Raleigh
Debora Tshiovo, Moravian Falls
Mark Walker, Summerfield
Jen Banwart, Fuquay-Varina
Ms. Lee A. Brian, Clayton
Leonard L. Bryant, Fayetteville
Ted Budd, Advance
Drew Bulecza, Lincolnton
N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice (Seat 05)
Republicans:
Victoria E. Prince, Greensboro
April C. Wood, Lexington
Trey Allen, Hillsborough
(No Democratic primary)
N.C. Court of Appeals (Seat 09)
Republicans:
Beth Freshwater Smith, Wilson
Donna Stroud, Garner
(No Democratic primary)
N.C. Court of Appeals (Seat 11)
Republicans:
Michael J. Stading, Charlotte
Charlton L. Allen, Mooresville
Lumberton City Council (District 02)
Melissa Robinson (incumbent)
Lumberton City Council (District 03)
John Carroll (incumbent)
Lumberton City Council (District 05)
John Cantey (incumbent)
Rhandi Cooper
Darryl Genus
Lumberton City Council (District 08)
Owen Thomas (incumbent)
St. Pauls Board of Commissioners (District 01)
John E. Gudauskas, Jr. (incumbent)
St. Pauls Board of Commissioners (District 02)
Annie Stephens (incumbent)
St. Pauls Board of Commissioners (District 03)
Mamie Regans Anderson
Joseph Weindel
St. Pauls Board of Commissioners (District 04)
Donna Powers Patterson (incumbent)
