ELIZABETHTOWN — Candidates for elected positions in Bladen County got the filing period for the March primary and November general election started on Tuesday with a flurry of hats tossed in the ring.

But perhaps the biggest filing-day news came from long-time Bladen County Commissioner Delilah Blanks, who officially decided she will not seek an eighth term on the board. Blanks, a mover and shaker out of the county’s southeastern portion of the state, has served as chairman of the county commissioners in the past and has held posts within the state’s Democratic Party as well.

Blanks has also been involved with the Bladen Improvement Association, which was instrumental in twice defeating the quarter-cent sales tax referendum for education.

Also announcing he won’t seek re-election was County Commissioner Billy Ray Pait.

Leading the way during Tuesday’s filings were:

— Incumbent county commissioners Jimmie Smith, Daniel Dowless, Wayne Edge and Michael Cogdell.

— Challengers to county commission seats Pamela Benton, David Gooden and Ophelia Munn-Goins, who currently serves as the chairman of the Board of Education.

— Incumbent N.C. Rep. William Brisson of Dublin for a sixth term in the House.

— Incumbent Bonnell Walker for her Board of Education seat in District 3.

— Challenger Glenn McKoy for District 1 Board of Education seat.

Filing will continue until noon on Monday, Dec. 21.

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Staff report