Filing began at noon on Friday, July 3, for those seeking seats on the Fuquay-Varina Town Board or for the office of mayor.

All three incumbents holding seats currently have indicated they will attempt to hold onto them for another term.

John Byrne has said he will seek reelection as mayor. Bill Harris, a commissioner for about 20 years, has said he will run again. So will Cindy Sheldon who won her first term almost four years ago.

In a separate arena Wake School Board member Horace Tart, representing the Fuquay-Varina and Garner areas, has said he will seek reelection.

Thus far, no challengers have surfaced and some in the community who watch town government closely, say they have not heard any names mentioned as prospective candidates.

This year, those who seek any of the offices will have to pay their filing fees at the Raleigh office of the Wake County Board of Elections. In the past, filing could be done with the Fuquay-Varina town clerk or at the Raleigh office.

Gary Sims, deputy director of the Wake County Elections Board, said last week the requirement does not represent a change in the law but a strengthening of oversight by the board of elections. He said the instruction came from the State Elections Board.

He said the aim is to give the county elections office an opportunity to assist each candidate in getting his or her campaign finance documents started as soon as they file. He said such files must be set up when the candidate spends the first penny. He said each candidate will have to indicate where each penny came from as well.