Familiar faces have filed for the 2022 Primary Election, but they are joined by some challengers.
Current commissioners Jeff Harding and Steve Pitman both filed for re-election. The two Republicans will be joined on the primary ballot by fellow GOP candidates Jerry Prosser, Dewayne McKinney and Clayton Roberts.
Prosser was the first of the group to file, doing so on Feb. 24. Roberts filed on the final day (March 4).
On the Democratic side of the ballot, Howard Larsen was the lone candidate to file. Larsen is no stranger to the quest for a commission seat— he was on the ballot for such a spot in the 2020 General Election. He earned 1,869 votes but Republicans Harley Masters, Brandon Pittman and Harding were ultimately elected.
Current commissioner Matthew “Vern” Grindstaff is a notable omission from the Republican side of the primary ballot. Grindstaff, who was chair of the board for more than six years, announced in a Facebook post that he would not seek a third term.
“It was never my goal to serve more than two consecutive terms from the very beginning,” he wrote. “As things move along, as in any situation, circumstances change. That being said, I feel at peace in my heart to not file.”
Longtime Mitchell County Sheriff Donald Street will be challenged by Charles Dean Corn in the primary.
Ralph Hise is joined by fellow Republican Deanna Ballard on the primary ballot in the quest for NC State Senate District 47. Ballard, a Blowing Rock resident, filed on Feb. 28.
The statewide primary is May 17.