2 Seats Still Have No Candidates In Newton School Board Elections

NEWTON,None — Filing for school board elections for Newton-Conover City Schools and Hickory Public Schools closes in six business days and there are still two seats with no candidates.

Both districts had to look at the lines for their wards with the change in 2010 Census population. Newton-Conover's didn't shift, but Hickory's did, affecting where people live who file for the ward seats. The incumbents up for re-election — Joab Cotton in ward 6 and Charlotte Williams who has the at-large seat — are not affected by the new ward lines.

Cotton said he hasn't decided if he will run for re-election. He has served on the board for four terms, a total of 16 years. He was elected as chairman in 2009. No one has filed for the Ward 6 seat yet.

The other seat that currently has no candidates is that of former board member Vanessa Linebarger. She resigned from the board without explanation in July after being on the board for 15 years. She served Ward 4. The board has not filled her seat since her resignation.

Cotton said the board plans to start the interview process for her replacement soon. Her replacement will sit on the board until the November election.

The closing date for school board filing is Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. Catawba County Board of Elections Director Larry Brewer said it is possible the election filing date could come and no one will file for one of the open seats.

"My board can extend filing by a week if that happens or it may not," he said.

If the board of elections decides to do that, the decision could be made after 5 p.m. on Sept. 9 or by the following Monday morning, Sept. 12.

If the board does not extend the filing deadline and no one files to run, then the person who will sit on the board will be whoever gets the most write-ins for the position, Brewer said.

Incumbent Williams, the sole Hickory Public Schools' candidate, filed to run for her at-large seat. If elected, it will be her second term.

The candidates for Newton-Conover City Schools' board positions are the three incumbents up for election.

Jim Stockner is the only person who has filed for the Newton seat thus far, while Mark Murphy and Board Chairman Scott Loudermelt have filed for the two Conover seats.

The filing fee for school board is $5.

WSOC