Candidate filing starts Friday for Gaston County school board elections
Five of the nine seats on the Gaston County school board are up for election this year, and the candidate filing period starts noon Friday.
At least two of the five seats will be filled by someone new.
South Point Township school board member Justin Davis won the Republican primary for Superior Court judge in May and will face Judge Jesse Caldwell IV, a Democrat, in November's general election for a seat on the bench, leaving his school board seat open.
In Dallas, incumbent Steve Hall said he will not run for re-election to the Dallas Township seat, choosing to support Josh Crisp. However, he said he remains undecided on whether to run for the at large seat on the Gaston County Board of Education now held by Dot Cherry.
Cherry was first elected in 2014, and if she runs will be seeking a third term.
Glenn Bratton has also announced he'll run for the Dallas Township seat on school board.
Gastonia Township school board member Lee Dedmon plans to seek a third, four-year term on the school board. The former Gaston County Schools principal said this will be his last term if elected.
Riverbend Township board member Kevin Collier's seat is also up for election. Collier has been on the school board since 1998. If he files, Collier will be seeking a seventh term.
The four-week filing period ends at noon Friday, Aug. 5.
Gaston County school board seats are nonpartisan, and candidates are not formally affiliated with any political party.
Soil and Water District
Four people are also running for two open seats on the Gaston County Soil and Water District Supervisor race.
Those running are:
Dan Brandon
James Burgess
Bill Ward
Robert Jansen
Current officeholders Esther Scott and Robert Cloninger did not file for re-election.
You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at kellis@gastongazette.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gaston County candidate school board filing begins
