As of Monday's noon deadline for political candidates to file for the primary election next year, 10 Republicans and Democrats were officially in the race for the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Other races have heated up somewhat as well.

Seven New Hanover County Republican candidates for commissioner will face a primary contest March 15, while the three Democrats will not. That's because there are three seats up for re-election on the board, and state law states the number of candidates from one party on the final ballot can not exceed the number of seats available, according to Derek Bowens, the county's elections director.

Republican contenders for commissioner are John Babb, Jim Brumit, Beth Dawson, Campbell Dodd, Derrick Hickey, Pat Kusek and Woody White. Democratic candidates are Jonathan Barfield Jr., Nelson Beaulieu and Julia Boseman.

Brunswick County, which elects its commissioners by district, with one commissioner per district, also saw a total of 10 candidates. Republicans James Medlin and Pat Sykes will be on the primary ballot for the nomination for District 3, while Democrat William Flythe faces no party opposition.

In District 4, three Republicans -- Mike Forte, Alan Lewis and Louie Lewis -- will face each other in the primary, as will Democrats Timothy Evans and Brenda Faye McMillan.

District 5 candidates Frank Williams (Republican) and Wesley Hickman (Democrat) will appear on the November ballot with no primary contest.

Pender County also elects its commissioners by district, and two seats are up for election. In District 4, Demetrice Keith and Jody Woodcock will vie for the Democratic nomination, while Republican Jacqueline Newton faces no party opposition.

There will be no primary contest for the District 5 seat. Fred McCoy is the sole Republican candidate, and Sheree Shepard is the lone Democrat.

David Rouzer (R-Johnston County), who is seeking re-election as the U.S. Representative for District 7, faces a challenge in the primary from fellow Republican Mark Ott. Democrat J. Wesley Casteen, a former Libertarian, has filed to run as a Democrat for the seat.

Walter Jones (R-Pitt County), the incumbent U.S. Representative for District 3, has two Republican challengers in the primary: Taylor Griffin and Phil Law. Democrat David Hurst is also running but has no primary challenger.

In races for state General Assembly seats, Bill Rabon (R-Southport) is unopposed in his bid for another term the state senator representing Senate District 8. Michael Lee (R-Wilmington), has no primary challenge for the Senate District 9 seat, although he will be opposed in November by Andrew Barnhill (D-Wilmington).

In races for N.C. House of Representatives, few primary contests are involved. Chris Millis (R-Hampstead) is unopposed in his own party for re-election to the House from District 16 but will face Steve Unger (D-Hampstead) for the November election. Susi Hamilton (D-Wilmington) faces no opposition within her party for the House seat from District 18, although Leland Republican Gerald Benton filed for the Republican nomination.

In House District 17, incumbent Frank Iler will face Marion Davis in the Republican primary. Democrat Charles Warren will challenge the winner of that contest in November.