ROCKINGHAM — One of the three men hoping to be listed as a candidate for the Richmond County Board of Commissioners on the November ballot is out of the race.
Johnathan Buie, a former Hamlet councilman, has said he is no longer seeking signatures to run in the upcoming election, according to a Monday afternoon email from Elections Director Connie Kelly.
Buie cited “personal reasons,” for his decision not to continue, Kelly said.
Buie had spent eight years on the Hamlet City Council, serving as mayor pro tem, before resigning in 2019 because of a work transfer.
According to his LinkedIn page, Buie worked for CSX Transportation for 18 years and is currently director of procurement and sales for Air Production and Service, Inc.
Two other candidates are petitioning for the county race: Bryan Stanback and Joe Ward. The contest also features seven candidates from each the Republican and Democratic parties.
In addition to the two seeking signatures for that race, there are two other hopefuls petitioning.
Ashley Brower is challenging Vickie Daniel for clerk of superior court and Joe Cagle is collecting signatures to be on the ballot as a candidate for sheriff.
Petitioners will have to solicit 1,094 valid signatures from Richmond County voters by May 17 to be on the general election ballot in November, according to Kelly. If they succeed, they will then have to pay the filing fee.
As of Monday, Brower had submitted 795 valid signatures. However, Kelly said she has yet to receive any from the others.
Filing for the 2022 election closed at noon last Friday.
