The office of sheriff, clerk of court, four seats on the county board of commissioners and four on the board of education, along with a seat in the N.C. House and Senate are up for grabs in 2010.

The filing period opens Feb. 8 at 12 p.m., and will end at 12 p.m. Feb. 26.

While no one can officially declare their intentions to run for these offices until the filing period begins, the number of campaigns being organized for the sheriff’s office has expanded in recent weeks.

There are now five potential candidates who have formed campaign committees for the office of sheriff.

In addition to former Rockingham Police Chief Eddie Martin and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Major James Clemmons, who have both been featured in articles in the Daily Journal related to their intentions to run, Sheriff’s Office Captains Wendall Sessoms and Bo Frye, as well as City of Rockingham employee Bruce Brown Jr. intend to run.

The winner of this election will become the third sheriff of Richmond County elected since 1950. The office was held for 44 years by the late R.W. Goodman, then for another 16 years by current Sheriff Dale Furr.

Furr announced in September he would not seek office.

On the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, the seats currently occupied by Vice Chairman Thad Ussery, Commissioner Jimmy Maske, Commissioner Paul Wilson and Commissioner Pam Dillman will be open.

On the Richmond County Board of Education, the seats currently occupied by Vice Chair Tom McInnis, board member Pam Easterling, board member Ed Ormsby and board member Cathy Wilson will be decided this year.

No campaign committees have been formed related to any of the eight county offices.

Board of Education Chairman Kenneth Goodman has formed a campaign committee to seek the North Carolina 66th Congressional District Representative seat now occupied by Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin.

The seat represents Richmond and Montgomery counties.

Goodman is the son of the former Sheriff Goodman and the owner of R.W. Goodman Furniture, as well as the former owner of Richmond Yarns of Ellerbe.

Goodwin announced she would not seek reelection in September of last year, on the same day Furr made his announcement.

Montgomery County Board of Elections officials said no one has organized a committee to seek the seat from their county.

The final seat up for grabs in November will be the seat on the State Senate currently occupied by Sen. William Purcell. It represents Richmond and Scotland counties.

No candidates have organized a campaign committee in the race in either Richmond or Scotland counties, according to officials at both boards of elections.

The filing fee to run for sheriff is $740, $824 to run for clerk of court, $94 to run for county commissioner and $27 for the board of education.

The fee to run for state house or senate is $207.

The fees represent one percent of the salary of the office being sought.

The fee as well as a formal Notice of Candidacy must be turned into the Richmond County Board of Elections by the deadline on Feb. 26 to be accepted.

All filing fees more than $50 must be by check, as no cash exceeding that amount will be accepted.

Candidates must be a registered voter in the county where they file, and belong to the political party in which they file.

The county elections office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located at 221 Hancock St. in Rockingham, and the phone number is 997-8253.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.