Chatham Congressional candidates highlight early 2020 election filings

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Two incumbent Congressman, a state Senate challenger and an incumbent school board member are among the notable names already filed for the 2020 election.

U.S. Reps. David Price (D-N.C., 4th District) and Ted Budd (R-N.C., 13th District) registered to retain their seats, which newly include Chatham County after redistricting moved Chatham out of the 6th Congressional District and split it between the 4th in the east and the 13th in the west.

In a campaign email, Price said he was seeking re-election to “continue the fight for affordable housing, transportation diversity, expanded access to health care, and a clean energy future.”

Price has represented the Fourth District since 1997.

“The progress we’ve made to expand health care access and protect our planet is under daily threat by a reckless president who puts his own personal interests ahead of our country, both at home and on the world stage,” Price wrote in the email. “Now more than ever, we need steady hands in Congress to restore our democracy and give a voice to our community’s shared values.”

Price is already facing a GOP challenger, Wake County resident Debesh “Dave” Sarkar, who filed for the seat last week. A structural engineer by trade, Sarkar’s website states that he is a first-generation immigrant from India whose “core values” include fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility and government accountability.

“I believe in giving back and helping those who struggle,” Sarkar stated on his webpage. “My work with those who need a helping hand is something I hope can inspire others. I have two grandchildren and I want them to grow up and have a chance to live in a safe neighborhood with peace and prosperity, clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.”

Budd, who has been in Congress since 2017, is a Winston-Salem native and gun store owner. On his campaign Facebook page, Budd stated that he was seeking re-election “because Piedmont families need a reliable conservative who stands with President Trump and doesn’t cave to Washington insiders.”

“The only way to change our politics is to serve with integrity, conservative backbone, and a heart for others,” he said.

Both incumbents whose terms were up on the Chatham County Board of Education are back in the race, after District 1’s Melissa Hlavac filed for re-election on Monday. She joins District 2’s David Hamm, who filed last week.

On the state level, Pittsboro Republican Tom Glendinning has filed for a second shot at the State Senate District 23 seat currently held by Durham Democrat Valerie Foushee, who also filed last week. Glendinning, who lost in 2018 by more than 43,000 votes, is described on his website as someone who has “been part of this community for over 50 years, working tirelessly to make it a better place.”

Additionally on the state level, Republican and Democratic candidates filed for N.C. Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commissioner of Labor.

Of note, as of Tuesday morning, no one had filed for the two open seats on the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. The terms for Democrats Karen Howard (District 1) and Mike Dasher (District 2) expire next year.

Reporter Zachary Horner can be reached at zhorner@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @ZachHornerCNR.