A challenger to the seat of Dobbins Heights Mayor Antonio Blue and a seat on the town council have emerged, and new challengers have signed up to run in the races for Rockingham and Hamlet city councils.

Barring an extension from the County Board of Elections, the cut-off for candidates to declare their intentions will be noon Friday, explained Elections Director Connie Kelly.

“Should there be any races where there aren’t enough candidates to fill the number of openings, those positions may be filled by write-in candidates,” Kelly said Tuesday afternoon. “The board may choose to extend the deadline, but that is not a requirement.

Paul McIntyre will challenge Blue to lead the Town of Dobbins Heights, while former Town Councilman Curtis Ratliff has filed to seek the two-year unexpired term currently held by Town Councilman Thomas White. White has also filed to run for the seat for which he was appointed following the death of former Councilman Charles “Romeo” Jones.

Eddie McRae has filed to run for the remaining open seat.

The race for Rockingham City Council also heated up of late with the entry of Teressa Beavers into the race. This is the second consecutive municipal election cycle Beavers has run, after being edged out during the 2009 campaign along with former Councilwoman Shirley Fuller.

All three incumbents for Rockingham City Council - Mayor Pro-Tem Bennett Deane and councilmen Gene Willard and John Hutchinson - have declared to seek to reelection.

Meanwhile, Hamlet City Council saw another challenger recently toss his hat in the ring when Dewey Brower joined Jonathan Buie as challengers to the board. The lone incumbent to file for reelection thus far has been Councilman Tony Clewis, but the seats of councilmen Pat Preslar and Bill Bayless are up for grabs.

Ellerbe also saw its first name enter the race for town council when James “Buddy” Cooper filed to seek the seat he was appointed to fill after Councilman Jerry Meacham left the board.

Hoffman has the most remaining vacancies on its town council. Only Mayor Jo Ann Jasper-Thomas and Councilman Daniel Kelly and Mayor Pro-Tem Tommy Hart have registered. There are five open seats on the town council.

In Norman, Cynthia Ingram and Stephen Cranford have filed to seek reelection to the town council, and there is another seat open in the 2011 election.