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Crowded Field For At-Large Commissioners Race
Wayne Powers took Leap Year to heart on the last day of filing for elected office, jumping into the Republican primary race for an at-large seat on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.
Powers enters a wide-open and already crowded contest where all three at-large seats on the board are up for grabs. And with four Republican candidates and a dozen Democrats on the ballot, the sizeable field could yield an interesting twist by potentially increasing the chances of an extended race. For an at-large primary if no one captures at least 40 percent of the vote, the top four vote-getters in each party go to a run-off, according to the county’s website. The reason for the run-off is to narrow the field to three candidates from each party who will square off in the general election, vying for the commission’s three at-large seats.
None of the board’s incumbent at-large members are seeking re-election. Commissioner Jennifer Roberts, a Democrat, and Commissioners Vice Chair Jim Pendergraph, a Republican, both announced earlier this month they wouldn’t seek reelection to the board, opting instead to take a shot at the 9th District Congressional seat being vacated by Republican Sue Myrick. Commissioners Chairman Harold Cogdell joined the exodus when he announced this week that he was dropping his Democrat party affiliation for Independent status and not seeking another term as commissioner.
Powers, a frequent guest host on WBT 1110-AM and occasional House Guest columnist on this site, said Cogdell’s decision to forgo a reelection bid was one reason he decided to jump into the race. Cogdell was considered a swing vote on some issues and, despite his former Democrat affiliation, at times crossed party lines to join the board’s Republican minority.
With that potential crossover collaboration fading with Cogdell’s departure, Powers said it’s critical for Republicans to pick up at least one of the three at-large seats. He squares off in the GOP primary against Michael Hobbs, James Peterson and Angelique Diaz Landry. Tim McLeod withdrew on the last day of filing.
“With three at-large seats and the county’s demographics increasingly favoring Democrats,” Powers said, “I honestly think this could be our last opportunity to get an at-large Republican on the board. And there are so many important issues at stake that are basic to everyone’s quality of life. We need to keep this county affordable to live in, through responsible fiscal management, or we’re headed down a path that ends up like a Detroit.”
In that light, Powers said he plans to run a campaign that attracts and holds the Republican base while appealing to Independents and crossover Democrats.
A crowded primary looms on the Democrat horizon with 12 candidates on the ballot, while Jason Bateman is the lone candidate on the Libertarian ticket. Democrats vying for an at-large spot include Paul M. Brown, Sr., Pat Cotham, Jyoti Friedland, Trevor Fuller, Adam Geremia, Marc Gustafson, Robert Hillman, Gregory Hunt, Craig Madans, Oronde McLean, Kim Michele Ratliff and Harry Taylor.
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interesting fact is that under NC law the at-large have to get 40%. IF they do not the others can challanage for a second primary. This has rarely been done.Here is how the law would handle that:
“If nominees for two or more offices (constituting a group) are to be selected and aspirants for some or all of the positions within the group do not receive a substantial plurality of the votes, those candidates equal in number to the positions remaining to be filled and having the highest number of votes shall be declared the nominees unless some one or all of the aspirants equal in number to the positions remaining to be filled and having the second highest number of votes shall request a second primary in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. In the second primary to select nominees for the positions in the group remaining to be filled, the names of all those candidates receiving the highest number of votes and all those receiving the second highest number of votes and demanding a second primary shall be printed on the ballot.
The law reads “If nominees for two or more offices (constituting a group) are to be selected, and there are more persons seeking nomination than there are offices, the substantial plurality shall be ascertained by dividing the total vote cast for all aspirants by the number of positions to be filled, and by multiplying the result by forty percent (40%). Any excess of the sum so ascertained shall be a substantial plurality, and the aspirants who obtain a substantial plurality shall be declared the nominees. If more candidates obtain a substantial plurality than there are positions to be filled, those having the highest vote (equal to the number of positions to be filled) shall be declared the nominees.”
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One of the three not named Wayne needs to get out NOW so the others can begin raising money now for the general election.
So, Michael, Angelique and James – please get together and determine with Wayne which of the two of you can raise the most money and work best with Wayne to run as a team.
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