No one running against Gurley
By Steve Herring
Published in News on July 26, 2014 11:46 PM
No Democrat will officially challenge newly appointed commissioner Republican Joe Gurley this fall in his bid to serve the remainder of his term as District 4 representative on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.
Democratic Party Chairman Gene Britt made the announcement Friday afternoon, but declined further comment.
Gurley filed for the office June 2.
Anyone who wants to challenge Gurley as a write-in candidate will have until Aug 6 at 5 p.m. to file his or her petition.
The seat became available in late April when Republican Steve Keen resigned to take a position in Gov. Pat McCrory's administration.
District 4 covers much of western Wayne County from the Duplin County line north to U.S. 70.
The job of recommending Keen's replacement fell to the Wayne County Republican Party Executive Committee since Keen is a Republican.
The commissioners this May, unanimously appointed Gurley, who was recommended by the committee.
The term does not expire until 2016.