The filing period for local elected office officially opened this Monday, and there are a few races developing in the first week.

Former Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigator Tony White has filed to run against the current sheriff Charles Blackwood, who has filed to run for re-election. Blackwood was first elected to the office in 2014, winning in a runoff.

It also appears multiple challengers will be lining up to face incumbent Fourth District Congressman David Price in this year’s Democratic primary. Richard Watkins, from Durham, had previously announced his intentions to run. Watkins was joined on Wednesday when Michelle Laws, a prominent Chapel Hillian, announced her plans to challenge her fellow Chapel Hillian Price.

As of Thursday morning, Price was the only candidate who had officially filed with the State Board of Elections.

Incumbents have filed across the board and are unchallenged so far in other races. State lawmakers Valerie Foushee, Verla Insko and Graig Meyer have all filed for re-election. County commissioners Barry Jacobs and Earl McKee have filed to run for another term.

Former Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools board member Jamezetta Bedford previously announced her intention to seek the county commissioner seat being vacated after Mia Burroughs chose not to run for re-election and Bedford has filed for the seat.

Mark Chilton, James Stanford and Jim Woodall have all filed for re-election to their respective county offices of register of deeds, clerk of court and district attorney. None have any challengers as of Thursday morning.

One incumbent and two newcomers make up the three candidates who have filed for seats on the Orange County Board of Education. Four seats are up for election, and – although it is not a partisan race – it will be decided during this spring’s primary.

All of the candidates who have filed or publicly announced intentions to run have been Democrats, so it appears the primary will once again be the most competitive race in Orange County.

The filing period runs through the end of February.

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