Fourteen candidates signed up to run for Durham County commissioner during the February filing period. A 15th is trying to get into the race – later.

Omar Beasley (left), who registered a campaign committee for a commissioner run in January but never filed as a candidate, plans to get his name on the ballot by petition.

"He's got until the end of June to give us 7,000 valid signatures," Board of Elections Director Michael Perry said this morning.

If successful, Beasley would bypass the May 8 primary and go into the November general election as an unaffiliated candidate, although he is registered Democratic. All 14 of the filed candidates are Democrats.

Unless a non-Democrat candidate gets on the November ballot, the commissioner election will be de facto decided by the primary and, if necessary, a June runoff.

Beasley, a track coach and bail bondsman, is soliciting online "e-signatures," which, according to a campaign press release, are permissible under state law. His web site is www.beasley4countycommissioner.com.