19-07-2025
Competitive races shape up as filing ends
TRIAD — The conclusion of the municipal candidate filing period has left one area mayor facing opposition, one unopposed and one retiring from elected politics.
Candidate filing, which began July 7, concluded at noon Friday. Voters will settle races for mayors, city or town councils and municipal school boards in the Nov. 4 general election.
In Thomasville, Mayor Raleigh York will face a general election challenge from Thomasville City Schools Board of Education Chairwoman Wendy Sellars, a former Thomasville councilwoman, and currant Councilman JacQuez Johnson.
Eleven candidates are running for four seats on the Thomasville City Council. They are incumbents Doug Hunt, Scott Styers and D. Hunter Thrift and challengers Erika Sanders, Ed Craddock, Adam Leisure, Richard Flippin, Tommy Bryant, Kareem Grant Sr., Joe Lambert and Dana Lomba. Councilman Neal Grimes didn't seek reelection.
In the Thomasville City Schools Board of Education race, five candidates filed. They are incumbents Ja'Quez Taylor and Tiffany Baluka-Brannon and challengers Michael Sinkler, Malcolm Richbourg and L. Jeremiah McCauley. Voters will fill two seats.
There are no municipal primaries for cities and towns in Davidson County.
In Jamestown, Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Mann Rayborn will take on challenger Susan Clinard Dickenson in the race to succeed Mayor Lynn Montgomery, who isn't seeking another term after eight years in office.
Seven candidates are seeking two seats on Jamestown Town Council in a race with no incumbents. Councilwoman Martha Wolfe didn't seek another term, and the other seat is held by Rayborn who's running for mayor.
The council candidates are Jim Gibson, Phyllis Bridges, Cliff Paddock, Richard Clapp, Darren Myers, Jim Westmoreland and Shakinah Simeona-Lee. Jamestown voters will go to the polls Oct. 7 in a primary to narrow the council candidates from seven to four for the general election ballot. There's no primary for the mayor's contest.
In Wallburg, Mayor Allen Todd and Councilmen Zane Hedgecock and Steve Yokeley are unopposed on the ballot.
Municipal races in Guilford, Davidson and Randolph counties are nonpartisan, meaning the party affiliation of the candidates doesn't appear on the ballot. Winners of the general election will take office in December.
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