By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • In the first two days of the open filing period, five people filed to run for a seat on the Hoke County Board of Education.

Filing for the nonpartisan school board race opened Friday, July 1 at noon. Three candidates got a quick start on the first day of filing as they completed the paperwork to run for the school board. Tony Cunningham Sr., Ruben Castellon and Christopher Leach all filed Friday to run for the office.

Filing was on hold Monday due to offices being closed for the July 4 holiday, but reopened Tuesday. Two more candidates filed Tuesday to seek a seat on the Hoke County Board of Education. Catherine Blue, and incumbent board member Della Maynor filed their campaigns with the elections board.

There are three available seats up for election on the Hoke County Board of Education this year. Besides Maynor’s seat, those occupied by Barbara Buie and Irish Pickett are also up for contest in the election.

As the school board is a nonpartisan board, there was not a partisan primary election held for the office earlier this year. The filing period to run for the Hoke County Board of Education remains open until noon, July 15.

Last week also saw the end of the candidate filing for the Hoke County Soil and Water Conservation Board. The filing period for that nonpartisan board ended at noon Friday. The incumbents, Neil McKenzie and Leonard Baldwin, were the only two filers for that contest, according to Hoke County Board of Elections Director Chassidy Chavis.

In a second nonpartisan election, candidate filing for Hoke County Soil and Water Conservation ended Friday, July 1 at noon. Incumbents Neil McKenzie and Leonard Baldwin, were the only two filers for that contest and will run for reelection unopposed.

The nonpartisan elections are just two of multiple races Hoke voters will decide this November. There are also three seats on the Hoke County Board of Commissioners, the office of Hoke County Sheriff, as well as state and federal representation up for decision.

For information on how to file to run for election, to register to vote or for further information about any elections matter, visit the Hoke County Board of Elections at https://www.hokecounty.net/235/Elections or call (910) 875-9062. The office is located at 227 North Main Street in Raeford.