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\n Tammy Grubb has written about Orange County\u2019s politics, people and government since 2010. She is a UNC-Chapel Hill alumna and has lived and worked in the Triangle for over 25 years.<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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North Carolina will hold its primary election for local, state and federal offices on May 17, 2022.<\/p>\n
cseward@newsobserver.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n Welcome to The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun\u2019s Voter Guide for the 2022 Orange County primary elections. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We have reached out to all of the candidates running for county commissioner, Register of Deeds, district attorney, Carrboro Town Council, and Orange County Schools Board of Education, and asked them to complete a candidate questionnaire. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ballot includes three Democratic commissioners who are running unopposed for another term in office and a fourth Democrat who is seeking to serve the remaining two years of her recent appointment. <\/p>\n Register of Deeds Mark Chilton is facing a primary challenge from Penny Rich, a former county commissioner and Chapel Hill Town Council member. In the district attorney\u2019s race, two assistant district attorneys are competing to replace retiring District Attorney Jim Woodall.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the nonpartisan school board race, incumbents Will Atherton and Sarah Smylie are running against five newcomers to keep their seats. <\/p>\n One candidate, Garfield \u201cGaren\u201d McClure, will appear on the primary ballot, but he dropped out of the race March 14. Two school board members, Hillary MacKenzie and Brenda Stephens, are not seeking another term.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carrboro is holding a special election to fill a council seat left vacant when Damon Seils was elected mayor in November. Two candidates are running to serve the remainder of his term, which expires in 2023.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Other countywide races will elect a sheriff, clerk of Superior Court, and two Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are no Republican candidates on the ballot for any local Orange County offices, so the winners of the May 17 primary also are expected to win the Nov. 8 general election. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The names of candidates who responded to our questionnaire are hyperlinked below so that N&O and Herald-Sun subscribers can read their answers to our questions about local issues such as education and criminal justice, their top priorities, and what makes them the best candidate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The list will be updated as more forums are announced:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n April 26<\/b>: Justice United will host a District Attorney Candidates\u2019 Assembly from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The event will be held online and in-person (outside) at Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1929 Piney Grove Church Road in Hillsborough. Online participants will be provided a link in advance of the event. Registration is required. More information: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/bdhwxytj<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n April 28<\/b>: The Carolina Chamber and the Carrboro Business Alliance will host Orange County\u2019s local and state candidates for a Candidates and Elected Officials Forum from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The event will take place online, and registration is required. More information: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3wjvsnmy<\/a>.<\/p>\n May 1<\/b>: A candidate forum for Orange County School Board and the District Attorney race will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Mt. Zion AME Church in Hillsborough. The forum is sponsored by the Northern Orange Branch of the NAACP, Northern Orange Black Voters Alliance and Mt. Zion AME Church. Childcare will be available for children age 4 and up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The early voting period runs from April 28 to May 14. The deadline to register to vote in the May 17 primary election was April 22, although most one-stop early voting locations also offer same-day registration. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Requests to vote by mail must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 10. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n More information about the 2022 primary election and redistricting is available at ncsbe.gov\/voting\/upcoming-election.<\/p>\n If you have any questions or comments about this list, please contact Orange County reporter Tammy Grubb at tgrubb@heraldsun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aja Kelleher<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Eliazar Posada<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jamezetta Bedford (District 1)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anna Richards (District 1)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Earl McKee (District 2)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Greene (at large district)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jeff Nieman<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kayley Taber<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mark Chilton<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Penny Rich<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will Atherton<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Penny Carter King<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bethni Lee<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anne Purcell<\/p>\n Andre Richmond<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sarah Smylie<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ashley Wheeler<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Democrats<\/b><\/p>\n James L. Carr Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Robert Colon<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Constance (Lov) Johnson<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tobias LaGrone<\/a><\/p>\n B. K. Maginnis<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rett Newton<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marcus W. Williams<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Greg Antoine<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cheri Beasley<\/p>\n Chrelle Booker<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Republicans<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marjorie K. Eastman<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n David Flaherty<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Benjamin E. Griffiths<\/p>\n Kenneth Harper, Jr.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pat McCrory<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charles Kenneth Moss<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lichia Sibhatu<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Debora Tshiovo<\/p>\n Mark Walker<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jen Banwart<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ms. Lee A. Brian<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Leonard L. Bryant<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ted Budd<\/p>\n Drew Bulecza<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Democrats<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Crystal Cavalier<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Valerie P. Foushee<\/a><\/p>\n Matt Grooms<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stephen J. Valentine<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ashley Ward<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Richard L. Watkins<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clay Aiken<\/a><\/p>\n Nida Allam<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Republicans<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Courtney Geels<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Robert Thomas<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Republicans<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Victoria E. Prince<\/p>\n <\/p>\n April C. Wood<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trey Allen<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Republicans<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beth Freshwater Smith<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Donna Stroud<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Republicans<\/b><\/p>\n
\n Chris Seward
\n <\/span><\/p>\nCandidate forums<\/h3>\n
How to vote<\/h3>\n
Carrboro Town Council <\/b>(one seat)<\/h3>\n
Orange County Board of Commissioners (Four seats)<\/h3>\n
District Attorney (one seat)<\/h3>\n
Register of Deeds (one seat)<\/h3>\n
Orange County Board of Education (four seats)<\/h3>\n
U.S. Senate<\/h3>\n
U.S. House of Representatives District 4<\/h3>\n
NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 5<\/h3>\n
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 9<\/h3>\n
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 11<\/h3>\n