Voters settle local primaries today

Paul B. Johnson, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
Updated ·3 min read

Oct. 10—HIGH POINT — Voters in High Point's municipal primary election will decide today which candidates in three contests advance to the Nov. 7 general election in races that drew a heavier turnout of early voters compared with the last local election four years ago.

High Point voters will settle primaries for mayor, two at-large citywide seats on High Point City Council and the race for Ward 1 covering central and eastern High Point. Polls across the city will open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Guilford Board of Elections reports that 2,961 people voted early, up 37% from the 2,159 who voted early in the 2019 primary. In both years the primary featured the mayoral, at-large council and Ward 1 contests.

Guilford County Elections Director Charlie Collicutt said the higher early voting turnout may reflect more voters becoming comfortable with the option.

"I mainly attribute this to the massive early voting turnout in 2020 and very high 2022 — because when voters use it, they tend to go back and use it again," Collicutt told The High Point Enterprise.

The increase also may relate to the "hard work of candidates" getting votes banked early, he said.

Today's primary election day will feature voting at 36 precincts in the Guilford County part of High Point. Voters in three precincts in northeastern Davidson County that are a part of High Point will cast ballots in the mayoral and at-large council contests.

In the Guilford County part of High Point, three precincts have changed from the last municipal election. They are:

—Precinct H3 is at Beloved Community Church at 1015 Mill Ave. The location formerly was called Redeeming Love.

—Precinct H16 is now at the Community Life Center of St. Mary's Episcopal Church at 205 W. Farriss Ave. The former location was Westchester Baptist Church.

—Precinct H24 is now at Community Bible Church at 4125 Johnson St. The former location was Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

Today's primary involves 14 candidates.

The mayor's primary features four candidates seeking to succeed Mayor Jay Wagner, who announced this past summer that he wouldn't seek reelection. Council members Victor Jones and Cyril Jefferson are running along with political newcomers Gene Kininmonth and Abdul Rashid "Richard" Siddiqui. The top two finishers move on to the general election.

At-large council incumbent Britt Moore will appear on the primary ballot with six challengers: Sam Carr, Amanda Cook, Willie Davis, Kenneth Harper, Orel Henry and Shazia Iqbal.The top four vote-getters move on to the general election in the contest for two at-large citywide seats.

Three challengers are running in Ward 1 for the council seat being relinquished by Jefferson in his bid for mayor: Glenn Chavis, Henry Harris and Vickie McKiver. The top two finishers move on to the general election

Council races for wards 2 through 6 don't involve a primary and will be settled solely in the general election.

The Jamestown Town Council also has a primary for two seats. Incumbent John Capes is joined on the ballot by challengers Andrew Kinzie, Pam Burgess, Sarah Glanville, Duane Willis and Larry M. Lain. Councilman Lawrence Straughn didn't file for another term. The top four finishers will move on to the general election.

The High Point and Jamestown races are nonpartisan, meaning the party affiliation of a candidate doesn't appear on the ballot.

This fall's municipal elections are the first ones in the state where a photo ID will be required to cast a ballot.

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul