Primaries offer many choices

Today's primary offers voters a wealth of choices, especially on the Republican ticket. Stakes are high on the national, state and local level, so it is well worth the time to investigate the issues and go to the polls.

This information is intended merely as a quick guide to help you sort through your options. Most candidates and both political parties have Web sites where you can find out more about their platforms and biographies.

Democratic ballot

For Congress District 11: Patsy Keever, a retired teacher who is in her third term as a Buncombe County commissioner is running against relative newcomer Clyde Michael Morgan, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2000. Morgan, of Swannannoa, is the owner and chief executive of Can Do It, Inc. The winner will challenge incumbent Rep. Charles Taylor (R) in the November election.

For Governor: Incumbent Mike Easley, a lawyer and former attorney general of the state (elected in 1992 and 1996) is facing challenger Rickey Kipfer, a political newcomer from Broadway, N.C., who has criticized the governor's budget decisions.

For Lt. Governor: Curtis Hert of High Point, an assistant chaplain in the U.S. Army is running against incumbent Beverly Eaves Perdue, North Carolina's first female elected lieutenant governor. During her term of office, Perdue has championed excellence in education.

For Commissioner of Agriculture. Incumbent Britt Cobb, who came to office after 31 years in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, grew up on a family farm in Wilson County. His challenger, Tom Gilmore of Guilford County, served three terms in the N.C. House of Representatives and is president and co-owner of Gilmore Plant and Bulb Co.

For Secretary of State. Incumbent Elaine Marshall of Lillington, the first woman to serve on the N.C. Council of State, was first elected in 1996. A former teacher and business woman, she is an attorney who has also served in the N.C. Senate. Her challenger, Doris A. Sanders, who comes from within the Department of State, has a background in information processing.

For Superintendent of Public Instruction. The incumbent, Mike Ward, chose not to see re-election. Running on the Democratic ticket are June Atkinson, a former teacher and director of instructional services with the Department of Public Instruction, Marshall Stewart, also a former teacher who serves as state agriculture education director, and J.B. Buxton, who has directed education policy for Gov. Mike Easley since 2001. Buxton was endorsed by the N.C. Association of Educators.

Republican ballot

For U.S. Senate. Three candidates are vying for the chance to face off against Democrat Erskine Bowles in November. Richard Burr, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is running on a record of strong support for national defense and the war on terror, support for families and for N.C. workers. John Ross Hendrix, a graphic artist and paratrooper, and Albert L. Wiley Jr., a physician and nuclear engineer oppose him in the primary.

For Governor. Six candidates are competing for a chance to occupy the governor's mansion: Patrick J. Ballantine, Dan Barrett, Bill Cobey, George W. Little, Fern H. Hubert and Richard Vinroot. For more about them, see the column on this page by Scott Mooneyham and John Hood.

For Lieutenant Governor: Republicans have three choices: Timothy Cook, Jim Snyder and Thomas Stith. For more information on the race, see Mooneyhams's column, "This race is worth watching," on this page.

For State Auditor. Leslie Merritt, an accountant and former county commissioner from Wake County is vying with Jasper N. Albright, who retired last year after 29 years with the state auditor's office. Both believe the office should be more proactive in catching problems.

For Commissioner of Insurance. C. Robert Brawley, a former member of the N.C. House of Representatives, is competing with Cindy C. Huntsberry, a Smithfield attorney, for the Republican nomination.

For Commissioner of Labor. Incumbent Cherie Berry, first female labor commissioner in North Carolina, has held the post since 2001. She is facing Lloyd T. Funderburk of Matthews, a safety consultant with SSA Inc., and a political newcomer.

For Superintendent of Public Instruction. Bill Fletcher of Cary, a member of the Wake County Board of Education, is running against Jeanne Smoot of Raleigh, a retired professor who taught in the English Department at N.C. State University. Smoot served in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and former President George Bush.

For Macon County Commissioner, District 3. Jimmy Goodman, a member of the Macon County planning board, is taking on incumbent Charlie Leatherman in the Republican primary. With no Democratic opposition, the winner will take the office.

Nonpartisan Races

Court of Appeals. Incumbent Alan Thornburg, who was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. Easley when Chief Judge Sidney Eagles retired, faces three challengers in the election. Barbara Jackson, general counsel for the N.C. Department of Labor, served in the Martin administration as associate general counsel. She has campaigned on her philosophy of judicial restraint. Marvin Schiller practices law in Raleigh and is regarded as a legal scholar. Alan Thornburg was a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Terry Sanford, law clerk for U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sam Ervin III and practice law in Asheville before being appointed to the court of appeals. Marcus Williams has practiced law in southeastern North Carolina and presently serves as assistant public defender in Robeson County.

For District Court Judge, District 30. Monica Leslie, a Waynesville attorney, was appointed to the seat left open when Judge John Snow retired, after winning the endorsement of fellow members of the N.C. Bar Association's western district. Her opponent, Sybil Mann, also a Waynesville attorney, has campaigned vigorously for the seat. Mann has been honored for her work against domestic violence in the 30th Judicial District. Waynesville attorney Rusty McLean, who has practiced law for 20 years, is also seeking the position.