Filing for the 2010 election began yesterday, and the Surry County Board of Elections saw a busy day.

“The first day is always extremely busy,” said Susan Jarrell, director of the county board of elections.

Jarrell said there is usually a lull after the first day. The two busiest filing days are generally the first and last days of the period.

Several candidates said they were at the board of election office in Dobson at noon, ready to file as soon as the filing period officially began.

For the North Carolina Senate 30th district seat, Ric Marshall, a Democrat, and incumbent Don East, a Republican, both filed. East’s intentions were first announced in an Aug. 26 article The News.. East is now completing his sixth two-year term as state senator. Marshall unsuccessfully ran against Darrell McCormick, a Republican, in 2008 for the N.C. House of Representatives 92nd district seat.

Incumbent Sarah Stevens, a Republican, filed for re-election to the NC House of Representatives 90th district seat. Her first term as state representative for Alleghany and Surry counties ends in 2010.

Also on Monday, incumbent Pam Marion, a Democrat, filed for re-election to clerk of court. Sheriff Graham Atkinson, a Democrat, filed for re-election.

The only person to file for county commissioner on the first day was Bill Hamlin, a Democrat. Hamlin now serves on the board and will run for re-election for the central district seat.

For the Surry County Board of Education, incumbent Earlie Coe filed to run for the district 3 seat. James Allan Jessup filed to run for the district 4 county board of education seat, as did incumbent Brian Gates. For the Elkin Board of Education, incumbent James Freeman filed for the city district seat.

According to a press release sent out by her office, Virginia Foxx filed for re-election on Monday as well. She has represented the fifth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2005.

The filing period for county offices does not end until Friday, Feb. 26. Registered voters aged 21 or older who want to run for county office must file a notice of candidacy with the board of elections during the filing period and pay a filing fee.

For more information about filing for office, call the Surry County Board of Elections at 401-8225; go to the board of elections page on the county Web site, http://co.surry.nc.us; or visit the state board’s Web site at www.sboe.state.nc.us.