Veteran Richmond County attorney Reece Saunders has filed to challenge District Attorney Michael Parker for the job of head prosecutor in Richmond, Anson and Stanly counties.

“My experience as a trial attorney, judge and advocate for numerous clients offers the knowledge, judgment and common sense to lead the District Attorney’s Office with fair treatment for everyone,” Saunders said in a prepared statement.

“I will prosecute the cases of this district by taking an active role in the courtroom, and I believe that I can better protect the citizens of this district by building a spirit of cooperation between the DA’s Office and law enforcement agencies across the district.”

A 1977 graduate of the Wake Forest School of Law, Saunders has also served as a District Court Judge from 1983 to 1986, and now practices with the Saunders and Carroll firm of Rockingham. He has also been the Rockingham City attorney for the past 12 years.

U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell gained a Democratic opponent for the May Primary. Four have signed up to jockey for the Republican nomination for the seat.

Kissell will face primary opposition from Nancy Shakir of Fayetteville.

Shakir is also a teacher, as Kissell was before being elected to Congress. She is also a writer, community activist and former Kissell campaign worker.

In November, she helped to organize a “Blow the Whistle on Larry Kissell” rally in Fayetteville to highlight his vote against the healthcare reform bill he said would have meant steep cuts to Medicaid and home health care services.

“His voting record has been disappointing to me and many others,” Shakir told the Fayetteville Observer.

Richmond County resident and The Umbrella Factory owner Darrell Day is among four candidates who have signed up to compete in the May primary on the Republican side.

Also signing on are Raeford businessman and leading fundraiser Tim D’Annunzio, Fayetteville resident and retired Army Col. Lou Huddleston and Charlotte computer professional Hal Jordan.

The field for the 2010 Richmond County Commission race also heated up with incumbents Jimmy Maske and Pam Dillman filing, along with challengers Rockingham small business owner Tony Martin and railroad union leader Ben Moss of Hamlet.

Dillman is fulfilling her first term on the county board, after retiring from the manufactured housing industry, holding an insurance license and investing in real estate with her husband Paul.

“The people’s voice has been my heart-felt journey over the last four years,” she said in a release. “My door is open to your visits and calls. My heart has always been about the people of Richmond County. That is my personal agenda. You need to be heard.”

She cited concerns shared in the recent four-year assessment by the county health department, as well as unemployment, as major issues for the upcoming term, and also touted the potential for green jobs in the county.

Commissioner Maske is seeking his ninth term on the county commission.

“I just love Richmond County,” Maske explained why he’s served on the commission for so many terms.

A retired Economy Auto Supply worker, Maske has called high school football games in the region for about 50 years.

“In my ninth term, I’d like to focus on the wastewater regionalization project between the Town of Ellerbe, City of Rockingham and the county,” Maske said. “The first priority is to replace the very outdated wastewater system in Ellerbe, but this would also open up a major highway corridor for future development.”

Maske explained there are already county water lines along the stretch of 220, but wastewater service would open the area up for industries to locate there.

“This could lead to residential and commercial development,” he said.

A Richmond County small business owner, Martin said the impetus to run for county commission came from others in the community who asked him to do so.

“I am concerned about the needs of the county,” he said in a release. “For instance, we need employers, large or small. Our citizens can’t afford any more taxes at this time, and the county shouldn’t plan for more infrastructure at the expense of the taxpayer.”

Martin continued to say the county should “be supportive of our county’s educational system,” and pledged that, if elected, “my door will always be open...”

Moss is the president of the Local Chapter 1011 of the United Transportation Union, and the chairman of the local road committee.

“What inspired is to run is a lack of growth and jobs in the county,” the 30-year-old repeat candidate said. “We can’t even maintain what we have. I just feel like someone with a younger mindset than the candidates we’re used to seeing ... could help us make this a better place for families and businesses.”

The four candidates join incumbent Paul Wilson Jr. and challengers Don Bryant and Jimmy Capps in seeking office on the county commission.

Incumbent County Commission Vice Chairman Thad Ussery has yet to file, though he has communicated his intentions to do so.

Thus far, four candidates have also registered to run for the four open seats on the Richmond County Board of Education.

The owner of Rockingham-based Iron Horse Auctions, School Board Vice Chairman Tom McInnis registered to run for his second term on the school board last week.

He said Monday that he feels the school system is headed in the right direction, but there is still work to be done.

“I am particularly proud of the progress that we’ve made in the areas of student testing, school maintenance, financial accountability and our drop out rate,” McInnis said. “We have made great strides in the education of every student in Richmond County, but our job is not done and we must continue to move forward to provide a 21st Century education for every student in Richmond County.”

If reelected, McInnis pledges to “continue to keep a close watch on every dollar that is spent to make sure it is spent effectively and efficiently.”

Incumbent Pam Easterling also filed to run for her third term last week. She is the head administrator at Sandhills Alternative Academy in Rockingham.

Monday, Easterling said she is pleased with the changes related to school realignment and improvement on test scores seen during the past term.

“We’ve got so much moving in a positive direction, and there are better things to come,” Easterling said. “Collaboratively, we’ve worked well together as a board to get these things done, and even if we don’t always agree, we agree to do what’s best for the students of Richmond County Schools. I’m just proud to be a part of that.

“I’ve never been so excited to be a part of the future of Richmond County Schools.”

Easterling and McInnis are joined by incumbent Ed Ormsby and challenger Irene Pittman Aiken in the race. Incumbent Cathy Wilson is yet to file for reelection.

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