WINDSOR – Two potential challengers to Windsor native and Democratic candidate Ronald ‘Ron’ Wesson for the 1st NC House District changed their plans to file prior to the Feb. 28 deadline.

Because of this, Wesson will run unopposed for the seat in the General Assembly’s newest district and face no opposition in the May Democratic primary.

Hertford Town Councilman Quinton Jackson, another Democrat, had indicated to supporters that he might seek the office. However, when the filing deadline came and went Jackson had changed his mind and did not appear at the Board of Elections. Jackson was elected to his council seat in the Perquimans County town in December of 2017.

D. Cole Phelps, another Democrat, is a Plymouth-attorney and Washington County Commissioner, who had been considered for the office.  However, Phelps, the youngest county commissioner elected in North Carolina at the time, filed instead on the last day for the NC Senate seat in the newly created District-1.

Phelps will first face Hertford County businessman Richard ‘Steve’ James in the May 8 Democratic primary for the Senate seat.

In November, the winner there will face either current House District-1 representative Bob Steinburg, of Edenton, or Dare County businessman Clark Twitty. They will meet in the May 8 in the Republican Primary.

“People had been asking why they hadn’t seen any of my campaign signs out, and I told them it was because I am unopposed,” Wesson said in a telephone interview with the News-Herald. “But be assured, they will see all they want to see of me between now and November.”

Wesson said he was familiar with both Jackson and Phelps, the latter of whose candidacy is in a Senate district that does not include Bertie County. Instead, Bertie remains in Senate District 3, a seat currently held by Erica Smith.

Wesson is now in his second term as a Bertie County Commissioner. The retired former executive with Dun & Bradstreet Corporation had chaired the Bertie board in 2014-15 and currently serves as vice-chairman.

Ed Goodwin and Candice Hunter have filed as GOP candidates for the 1st District House seat. They will face each other in the Republican primary on May 8.

The newly revamped NC House District 1 covers all of Bertie, Chowan, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

Previously, Bertie was in NC House District 5, which also included all of Hertford and Gates counties and a portion of Pasquotank County. That seat is currently held by Rep. Howard Hunter III of Ahoskie.