Wake Forest voters will elect a mayor and two commissioners in November, but the action really starts this spring because the two-week filing period for candidates runs from noon on July 7 to noon on July 21.
Candidates for both seats must be a resident of the town and a registered voter. Currently town elections are nonpartisan although there is a bill in the General Assembly to require party affiliation on the ballot.
Two months away from the filing period there are three announced candidates. Mayor Vivian Jones has said she will seek a fifth four-year term, and one-term Commissioner Jim Thompson has announced he will challenge her, leaving his seat open. Commissioner Margaret Stinnett has not said whether she will seek a third term. Planning Board member Thad Juszczak announced a month ago he will campaign for a commissioner seat.
Because there are no districts in Wake Forest, the top two commissioner candidates will be elected. Our elections follow a staggered schedule with three commissioner seats up for election in 2019.
The elected officials are paid. The mayor’s salary is $10,000 and the commissioners are paid $8,000.
