Election 2012 underway in Rockingham County

Filing for the 2012 Rockingham County Primary started Monday, and a few candidates were first in line and filed the first day for their respective offices. 

Sen. Phil Berger Sr., currently representing the 26^th District, was among the first-day filers. He has held his seat since 2000 and became president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate last year.

He said he’s running for re-election because there’s still work to be done.

“We’ve made some progress and we’ve started moving things in the right direction, but there’s a lot more I think we need to accomplish in the next couple of years,” he said. “I think it’s critically important to move forward with education reform – which is something we’ve gotten a start on, but we need to move further.”

Berger said it’s also important to fully explore the opportunity to develop an energy sector in North Carolina, particularly involving natural gas, and tax reform is needed to keep the state competitive.

“We need to reform our taxing system – it’s something that is working in other states, and we need to move forward with it in North Carolina,” he said. “There’s a lot more work to be done and I appreciate the opportunity the people of Rockingham and Guilford counties have given me to represent them.”

Rep. Bert Jones filed for re-election to the 65^th District House seat and Rep. Bryan Holloway will be running again for the 91^st District seat.

Two candidates for the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners have thrown their hats into the race. Both are newcomers to local politics and are looking to make some changes.

Ruffin resident Leanna Lawson is running on the Democratic ticket. She comes from a nursing background after retiring as an instructor at Rockingham Community College. Her top priorities are public health, education, maintaining the quality of public programs and protecting the county’s natural resources.

Mark Richardson of Stokesdale also filed Monday and is running as a Republican candidate. He was principal of Bethany Community Middle School for five years and is currently principal of the Alternative Learning Program School in Wentworth, according to a news release.

He is running on a platform of conservative principles which includes responsible use of the county’s tax dollars, creating greater economic opportunity in the county and improving the quality of communication between government and local residents.

Richardson served in the United States Air Force for 24 years and retired at the rank of colonel. In the Air Force, he worked as a fighter pilot, instructor and operational test pilot.

Also filing for the Register of Deeds is Rebecca Cipriani, who has served in this position since January 1998.

Filing for state and local office will end at noon Feb. 29. One-stop absentee voting will begin at the Rockingham County Board of Elections on Cherokee Camp Road at 9 a.m. April 19 and end at 2 p.m. May 5. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters can also stop by on Sunday, April 22, from 1:30-5 p.m.

Satellite sites will be available at the Eden Centre Shopping Center, the Mayodan Shopping Center and at Pennrose Mall in Reidsville. These sites will be open at 1:30 p.m. April 22 to 7 p.m. April 30. Sites will be available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with voting on Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sunday, April 22, from 1:30-5 p.m. There will be no voting April 29 at the satellite locations.

The primary will be held May 8. For additional information, call the Board of Elections at (336) 342-8107 or visit www.co.rockingham.nc.us.