Candidates for local and statewide office had their first opportunity Tuesday to declare their candidacy officially by filing with their local board of elections.

A total of 17 people in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties had done just that by 3 p.m. Tuesday. The filing period, which opened at noon Tuesday and ends at noon Dec. 21, is earlier than in previous years because the General Assembly moved the date of North Carolina’s primary election to March 15.

The State Board of Elections estimates that about 2,500 candidates will file for local and state offices before the filing period ends, according to a news release from the N.C. Board of Elections.

Tuesday afternoon, six candidates filed in New Hanover County.

Ted Davis Jr., is running for his current seat in the N.C. House of Representatives, and Tammy Covil is running for the seat in the House currently held by Rick Catlin, who has announced he will not seek re-election.

For the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, Jonathan Barfield Jr., filed his candidacy for re-election Tuesday, while Patricia Kusek also threw her hat in the ring for a spot on the county board. Commissioner Woody White, who last week reported that he would not be seeking another run at the 7th District Congressional seat and at the time said he was not ready to announce if he was vying for re-election in the commissioner post, had not filed with the county election board as of early Tuesday afternoon.

Also filing in New Hanover County on Tuesday was Jeannette Nichols, running for another term on the school board, and Tammy Beasley, seeking re-election as register of deeds.

In Brunswick County, six candidates also filed Tuesday afternoon. Bill Rabon is seeking another term in the N.C. Senate, representing District 8; Frank Iler plans to run again for his seat representing District 17 in the N.C. House; Frank Williams filed to run again for his seat on the Brunswick Board of Commissioners; James Medlin will seek a seat on the commissioners’ board;  Brenda Clemmons is seeking re-election as register of deeds; and Ellen Milligan filed to run for the Brunswick County Board of Education.

Pender County saw five candidates file Tuesday afternoon.

Three people are seeking seats on the county board of commissioners. Demetrice Keith is seeking re-election to her District 4 seat, while Jacqueline Newton is vying for her seat. Sheree Shepard has declared her candidacy for the seat representing District 5. Sharon Willoughby has filed to run for another terms as register of deeds.

Don Hall is a candidate for the Pender County Board of Education.