The filing period opened Monday and will continue until noon on Friday, Feb. 29.

Wilkins, who filed for reelection Thursday, is seeking his third consecutive two-year term in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Wilkins serves District 55, which encompasses all of Person County and the northern portion of Durham County.

After filing Thursday, Wilkins commented, “I’ve enjoyed my three years in the Legislature, and I think I’ve been effective in serving the folks in Person and Durham counties and indeed the whole state.

“I know that Speaker [Joe] Hackney has confidence in me. I know my fellow legislators have confidence in me. And I have great confidence in Speaker Hackney; I think he’s been a refreshing and able leader for us.”

Wilkins said that in the so-called short session of the Legislature that begins in May he hoped to work on “trying to restore second year funding for some programs that have been very effective in Person County. One of those is Teen Court. Right now, second year funding is not assured. But it’s something I’m committed to trying to get done.”

He said that one thing he was “really pleased” about from last year’s “long session” was a bill he sponsored that “led to funding for the new Piedmont Community College building,” which when constructed, he said, would allow two or three programs at the college to “reach their full potential.”

One of those, he said, is the nursing program that now must share space with other programs.

Earlier this week, five persons filed for the three available seats on the five-seat board of county commissioners. Democrat Jimmy Clayton is the lone incumbent to file thus far. Fellow incumbent Larry Yarborough has said he is still weighing his options, while Larry Bowes has indicated he might not seek a second term.

Four Democrats filed Monday to challenge for positions on the board. They included former Commissioner Sam Winstead, 82, Mike Barrett, 46, former chairman of the county’s Democratic party, and political newcomers David Brooks, 50, and Ray Jeffers, 24.

Mandy Garrett, 58, also filed Monday in an attempt to gain a fifth straight four-year term as the county’s Register of Deeds.