Candidates file, election issues surface and campaigns begin

This story first appeared on LuminaNews.com on Feb. 8
As the candidates for New Hanover County commissioner lined up on Monday, Feb. 8 to file their bids, each expressed confidence in his or her ability to affect change. In fact, “optimistic” and “change” were words tossed repeatedly toward a crowd of supporters swarming outside of the board of elections office.
But change what? With a depressed economic environment enduring, budgeting and spending were two issues candidates repeatedly referred to as in need of change, forecasting what is likely to become a major campaign topic.
Other issues surfaced too. Such as the one put forward by Democrat Deborah Butler, the first candidate in line to file and the only female to so far publicize an election bid. She expressed a need for diversity, a fresh voice from outside the mainstream to balance a board comprised of long-standing political veterans.
As a political newbie, Butler hopes her fresh perspective will appeal to voters and indeed it may. But she, like other Democrats this year, is facing an uphill battle vying for a board traditionally comprised of Republicans.
She's optimistic. As is Dale Smith, the second Democrat to file early Monday.
"It's time for a change in leadership," he said while waiting for the elections office to open. "We need to be more future oriented and more effective in planning. We need to be leaders for all the people in the county."
Jonathan Barfield, the only sitting Democrat on the board of county commissioners, endorsed Smith’s candidacy Monday, adding clout to his campaign.
“I understand that the tools (Smith) has in his tool box are the right tools for New Hanover County,” Barfield said. “It’s about having the right person on the bus.”
Without a third Democrat filing for two open seats, the party’s commissioner primary in May will be largely strategic—an attempt to keep its candidates at the public forefront, Butler said.
While Butler and Smith made an early showing, no one candidate for commissioner brought the entourage like Wrightsville Beach resident and Republican Rick Catlin. Surrounded by a throng of merry supporters, Catlin, with a firm smile, laid out a platform that seeks to strike a balance between business, the environment and quality of life.
He said that as a business owner and a member of the Port, Waterway and Beach Commission, he's been molding that balance for the last 20 years.
Calling on the budget, Catlin stressed the county "needs a business-sense candidate."
"We have a great chance to make a difference," he said.
Again, by expressing a need for change, Catlin's stance mirrors that of one of his contenders, Jason Harris, a Republican candidate for commissioner deeply concerned about what he termed the county’s boom-bust cycle.
"I've been watching the boom-bust over the last several years, and as a financial planner, I feel like I can work with budgets, build consensus ... and lend expertise," he said after filing.
Charles “Chuckie D.” Dorman was the third Republican to file Monday. His candidacy, he said, is less about partisanship and more about policy.
"I'm not running for the party. I'm running for the people—the small business people," he said in a conversation with a supporter outside the elections office.
Dorman said he is running for the soon-to-be vacated seat of Bobby Greer. He said he wants the other incumbent, Bill Caster, to stay on board.
Caster, the five-term commissioner, and Justin LaNasa, both Republicans, filed Tuesday for county commission.
New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon (D) also filed on Feb. 8 for Sheriff in what will be his first election and following additional candidates have also filed: Frank Rivenbark for N.C. House District 16; Beth Dawson (R) for N.C. House District 18; Lillian Bright (D) and Jan Kennedy (R) for Clerk of Superior Court; and Nick Rhodes (D), Edward Higgins (R), Janice Cavenaugh (R), Derrick Hickey (R) and Don Hayes (R) for Board of Education.
The filing period ends on Feb. 26.

Brian Freskos