THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 27, 1996 TAG: 9601270239
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
This spring, Camden County could be hosting its first Republican primary in living memory, elections officials said Friday.
Vivian Overton Johnson, 22, of Shiloh, filed for registrar of deeds in Camden on Friday. She joins fellow Republican Kristie Sawyer Corprew, 22, of Camden, in the race for the office held by Democrat Betty M. Jones.
Contested races have also developed in Camden County for both the school board and board of commissioners.
William Medford ``Bill Taylor Jr., 40, of Shiloh, is running against fellow Democrat and incumbent Sam Shaw, 77, of Shiloh, for the board of commissioners' at-large seat.
Other commissioners to file for re-election include Larry G. Lamb, a 52-year-old representing the Courthouse Precinct, and J.C. Rountree, 65, who serves the South Mills Precinct.
Three people have filed for two seats on the Camden County Board of Education, expected to be one of the more contentious races.
Jonathan F. ``Jon'' Worthington, 29, of Whitehall Shores, and G. Wayne White, 36, of the Courthouse Precinct, have filed for the two nonpartisan, at-large seats.
Incumbent David Edward Meiggs, 39, of Belcross, has filed for re-election.
Members of the current board were sharply criticized by citizens last year when they decided to switch principals at the middle and high schools.
In Currituck County, William L. Dobney, the county school system's associate superintendent, is the latest candidate to file for the board of commissioners.
Dobney, of Currituck, is seeking to represent the Crawford Township seat now held by Democrat Gene Gregory, who has filed for re-election.
Dobney ran for the commissioner at-large seat as a Democrat two years ago but recently switched to the Republican Party.
``I had an awful lot of people come up to me after the Democratic primary and say they would have liked to vote for me but they were registered Republicans.
``My philosophy is more towards fiscal conservatism, which is more in line with the Republican party,'' Dobney said Friday.
Democrat Ernest H. Bowden of Carova Beach also has filed for re-election. He is being challenged by Republican Gary Montalbine for the Fruitville Township seat.
In Perquimans County, a few candidates have filed for office, and elections officials said several others have expressed interest.
As of Friday, Gregory C. Barclift and Deborah S. Reed had filed for registrar of deeds in the county.
For the board of education, Thomas L. Riddick Sr., Helen Shaw and Wallace E. Nelson have filed.
Three people so far are running for county commissioner: Leo A. Higgins, M. Shirley Yates and Archie Miller.
In Chowan County, state Rep. Bill Culpepper of the 86th District tops a list of incumbents who have filed for re-election.
No one has yet filed to oppose the five incumbents running for re-election in the following county offices, elections officials said. The incumbents are registrar of deeds Susan S. Rountree; County Commissioners: District 1, seat 1, Harry L. Winslow; District 2, seat 1, George E. Jones; District 3, seat 1, James E. Taylor; At-Large, Allen F. Downum.
KEYWORDS: PRIMARY NORTH CAROLINA
by CNB