Setting the stage for ­candidate filing

With less than two weeks until ­candidate filing begins, two candidates have announced plans to run for the House District 68 seat, and two have said they’ll seek the Senate District 35 seat.

Both state Sen. Eddie Goodall and state Rep. Curtis Blackwood have declined to seek re-election. Blackwood is retiring, and Goodall will become president of the North Carolina Alliance for Public ­Charter Schools.

Since even before Blackwood’s announcement Jan. 13, there’s been speculation that former Marvin mayor – and former Blackwood challenger – Mike Cognac and current Marvin mayor John Ciaramella would seek the District 68 seat.

But on Jan. 27 Cognac said that despite the rumors, he has no plans to seek the seat.

Neither does Ciaramella. “I am not planning on running for the state House seat,” he said Jan. 27.

Who will run?

Unionville’s Jeff Gerber, 46, announced in December plans to run for the seat, saying it’s time for principled, effective ­leadership.

A community activist, Gerber organized a statewide ­coalition that helped lead to the passage of Jessica’s Law, which requires a 25-years-to-life sentence for anyone convicted of raping a child under age 13. He’s on the North Carolina GOP Executive Committee and Union County Planning Board, and a director of Union County Community Action, which oversees the Head Start, Early Head Start and Community Services Block Grant programs.

On Jan. 26, Weddington resident Craig Horn, 65, announced plans to challenge Gerber for the Republican nomination. “I’ve got seven grandkids and I’ve preached to them that you have to get involved, not just talk about something,” Horn said. “What kind of example do I set if I don’t practice what I preach?”

Horn, a retired Air Force veteran who served in the Security Service as a ­Russian linguist, said he believes he can work with both parties in Raleigh to help Union County. “I understand it’s a challenge and I understand that if elected, I’ll be in the minority (Republican) party.

“But I have worked with people from all walks of life and will continue to do that in Raleigh,” Horn said.

He said he’ll focus on education, ­public safety, transportation, especially securing state funds, and job growth if elected. “Anything I can do to attract jobs to Union County is first and foremost on my list,” Horn said.

In state Senate District 35, former county commissioner Tommy Tucker and former gubernatorial candidate – and ­former District 35 senator – Fern Shubert have announced plans to run.

Tucker, of Weddington, owns Parks Heating and Cooling. He’s also been a town councilman and mayor pro tem.

Shubert, of Marshville, held the Senate seat before Goodall, serving one term as Republican whip during the 2003-04 session. In the following session, Shubert gave up her seat to become one of six Republicans vying to challenge then Gov. Mike Easley. She finished fifth in the Republican primary with 4 percent of the vote.

At the county level, the board of commissioner seats held by Allan ­Baucom, Parker Mills Jr. and Lanny Openshaw are up for re-election.

As of Jan. 27, no ­challengers had announced their bids. Election filing runs from Feb. 8 to Feb. 26.