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ou might’ve thought political campaign activity was over what with Oriental’s election of a Town Board in November, but no.. the 2016 season has dawned, even while the calendar still says 2015.

This week candidates began filing for seats on the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners – Districts 1,2 and 5 – and the school board – districts 1, 2, 3 and 5. The general election is 11 months away – in November 2016 – but some of the candidates face a primary in March.

In District 2, which includes the Town of Oriental west to Merritt and Whortonsville there will be a new representative for the first time in a decade and a half as the current commissioner, Republican Chris Mele is not seeking re-election. Republican Candy Bohmert, a former Oriental Town Board member and longtime Croakerfest organizer filed on Tuesday for the seat.

Just on the other side of the Oriental bridge lies District 5, stretching from that part of the Oriental 28571 zip code to Arapahoe and Minnesott Beach. A primary will be happening there as 2 Republicans have declared – Angie Propst, in her first bid for elected office is challenging incumbent Ken Heath. That primary will be March 15 – coinciding with NC’s primaries for president, federal and state offices.

The 5 districts, sometimes confusingly called ‘townships’, represented on the Pamlico County Commission. Next year voters will choose their commissioners in District 1 (yellow) in western Pamlico; in District 2 (purple) Town of Oriental, Pamlico, Florence, Whortonsville, west along 55 to Merritt; and in District 5 (green) from the other (Greens Creek) side of the Oriental bridge along the Neuse shore to Minnesott Beach and Arapahoe. (Click on photo for enlarged view.)

In District 1, incumbent Pat Prescott, a Democrat is seeking a second term on the County Board.

Unlike the non-partisan municipal races, the county races have candidates running as members of political parties.

More primary action could be in the cards, depending on who else files before the December 21 noontime deadline. So far, the Propst-Heath primary is the only one at the county level.

Seats on the Board of Education in districts 1,2, 3 & 5 and the office of Register of Deeds are also in play. So too, the NC House and NC Senate seats representing Pamlico County in the NC General Assembly. Both Republican incumbents, District 2 Senator Norm Sanderson and District 3 Representative Michael Speciale have filed for re-election.

Those interested in running have until noon on December 21 and would file at the Pamlico County Board of Elections.

It’s not free. Elections Ssupervisor Lisa Bennett says the filing fee for County Commissioner is $35; Board of Education $5; for Register of Deeds it’s $340; and NC House or Senate $207.

Posted Thursday December 3, 2015 by Melinda Penkava