2016 candidate filing begins

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Candidate filing for the 2016 elections began statewide today.

In September, the General Assembly voted to move the filing period to December to accommodate an earlier primary on March 15, 2016. That will be the first election where folks will be required to present a valid ID in order to vote.

In New Hanover County, candidates and their supporters were out at the Board of Elections in Wilmington to make their candidacy official.

For Jeannette Nichols, who is running for re-election on the New Hanover County School Board, it is about continuing the work the board is striving towards.

“There’s so much more to do,” said Nichols. “We’re building a new school, renovating schools, working on centers for special needs children, keeping children in school, raising those tests scores, graduation rates. There’s great leadership at central office. It’s a good school board, and I want to stay on it.”

If re-elected this will be Nichols fourth term.

“The School Board is the foundation for all these other people that are running for an office. We have a great school system here, we want to keep it going,” Nichols said.

Also at filing day was NC House candidate Tammy Covil.

“I have a lot of experience in education issues and I wanted the opportunity to take that to the state level,” said Covil, who currently serves on the New Hanover County School Board. “That’s why I wanted to file for this seat.”

Covil adds that her four children are what drives her to hold public office.

“My children drive me. They are the reason that I do what I do everyday. I worry about the future of the country,” Covil said.

The State Board of Elections said they expect about 2,500 candidates to file for office before the deadline on December 21 at 12:00 noon.