The fields are set.
Filing for public office closed today at noon. In Knightdale and Zebulon, the races look pretty tame. All three incumbents in each town filed to run and there will be one challenger is each race.
The story couldn't be more different in the Wendell and school board races.
Here's a race-by-race breakdown.
Knightdale
Incumbents Mike Chalk, Jeff Eddins and Terry Gleason were all quick to register for re-election. The final day of filing brought challenger Charles Bullock to the race. He is a former town commissioner who operates a wrecker service.
Zebulon
Mayor Bob Matheny will run unopposed for another term as the leader of the Town of Friendly People. Incumbent commissioners Beverly Clark and Roy Collins placed their name on the ballot. They will face a challenge from Annie Moore for one of the two open seats.
Wendell
Two incumbents — Bill Connolly and Buddy Scarboro — chose not to seek reelection. Both men have been long-serving members of the town board. Connolly served a term as mayor and said this afternoon that 24 years of public service was enough. "It's time to let somebody else have a chance," Connolly said. Scarboro is pondering a move outside the town limits. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2007 and was the target of negative advertising by people who opposed the rezoning of land as part of an expansion of the Pepper Pointe development.
Still, there's no shortage of candidates. Ronald Thompson becomes the lone incumbent in a race to win one of three open seats. Former police Chief and Town Manager Ira Fuller was the final candidate to toss his hat into the ring. He filed this morning. Fuller joins Christie Adams, Lee Batson, Ginna Gray, Glenn Harris and James Parham on the list of would-be new commissioners.
Wake County school board
Lori Millberg's decision not to run for re-election left the District 1 race wide open and all three candidates made their plans to run known before filing even began. Rita Rakestraw of Knightdale, Chris Malone and Debbie Vair, both of Wake Forest, will vie for Millberg's seat in a race that is sure to draw the attention of special interests from all over Wake County. The district covers Wendell, Knightdale, Zebulon, Wake Forest and Rolesville.
