Guilford County Commissioner Alan Branson said on Wednesday, Dec. 11 that he planned to file to run again for the District 4 commissioners seat he now holds – and on Thursday, Dec. 12, he made good on that promise.
“I was planning to do it on my birthday on Monday,” Branson said of filing to run, but he added that he’d gotten busy that day.
He said on Wednesday that he might do it on the day known for misfortune: Friday, the 13th. But Thursday morning eagerness got the better of him and he went ahead made it official at the Guilford County Board of Elections office.
Branson, who lives in Julian and runs a trucking company, is currently serving his second term as a commissioner and will now seek a third. He was first elected to the board in 2012 and he took over the seat that, for years, was held by the colorful and infinitely quotable Commissioner Billy Yow. The outspoken Branson can also be very colorful in his quotes.
Branson said he’s very disappointed at the news that two of his fellow Republicans on the board – Commissioner Hank Henning and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Jeff Phillips – will not be running again for the seats they hold. Henning represents the Board of Commissioners District 6 while Phillips represents District 5.
Branson said he was especially shocked that Phillips is not seeking another term.
“I was surprised with Phillips not running,” Branson said, adding that he had suspected for a while that Henning might choose not to run again.
Branson said he was concerned that the board might fall back into the hands of a Democratic majority – which would mean that he and his fellow Republican commissioners wouldn’t have as much power to bring about positive change in county government.
Branson added that he’s optimistic Republicans will maintain control of the board since he has heard there will be some quality Republican candidates filing in the various commissioners races before the filing period ends at noon on Friday, Dec. 20.
“The sad thing is that you may get the Republicans fighting among themselves,” Branson said of the coming primaries.
