The first day of filing for the 2022 elections saw several candidates file for a variety of offices in Lee County.
Republican Brian Estes, currently a major with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office who is expected to be appointed interim sheriff by Jan. 1, was the first candidate to file Monday, the first day of the filing period which runs through Dec. 17. At least two other candidates, one Democrat and one Republican, have announced campaigns, but neither filed Monday.
Estes announced his filing in a Facebook post Monday.
Incumbent Democrat Susie Thomas filed to seek another term as Lee County clerk of court, and Republican Eric Davidson filed for one of three seats on the Lee County Board of Education. Davidson ran in 2020 and finished fifth out of the eight candidates on the ballot that year.
In a press release sent to The Rant, Davidson said the board needs to “do more for the students in the Lee County School System.”
“I am a candidate for election to the Board of Education who is seeking student success through a cooperative effort among students, schools, and society,” he said. “I will bring to the board a fresh perspective with a new voice and a new vision that puts students first and focuses on student achievement.”
Meanwhile, the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued an injunction closing the filing period for candidates for Congress and the state legislature due to a lawsuit challenging new district lines which passed in November. It’s unclear how long the injunction will last before candidates can file to run for Congress or the legislature.