Busick Throws Hat in Ring

SNOW HILL-The race for the 2014 Worcester County Commission took an interesting turn this week when a former commissioner decided to throw her hat back into the ring to campaign for a new term.
Linda Busick, who served as the District 6 commissioner from 2006 until 2010, has filed this week for her old seat. She told The Dispatch that her attempt to return is not because she misses the position but because she is still contacted regularly by former constituents who feel they are being under-represented.
“Since I have been in my current, civilian capacity, I have received numerous calls over the past four years,” she said. “And I’m not talking now and again, but continually I get calls from people who were my constituents.”
Busick was defeated in the 2010 Republican primary for District 6 by now-Commissioner Jim Bunting by a margin of 652 votes to 396, or 62-percent to 38-percent. After her defeat in the primary, Busick launched a write-in campaign but failed to win the general election.
In her campaign this year, Busick plans to advocate for many of the same issues she did as a County Commissioner.
“My platform is basically that I’m concerned about keeping the rural county, keeping Worcester County’s rural flavor,” she said. “I want to make sure that we grow appropriately in the right places.”
Getting a new or renovated Showell Elementary School is another priority.
“I am definitely concerned about my Showell Elementary School that the children have had to go to school in, and utilize,” she said, “those mobile classrooms, or trailers, for far too many years…I know the agenda is to do Snow Hill High School next but I want my children out of trailers, I want them in classrooms.”
Busick joins a short list of those who have filed for the upcoming election for County Commissioner. Incumbent Merrill Lockfaw has already filed for re-election to District 1 while Democrat Tom Wilson and Republican Ray Unger have both filed to compete for District 5 which will be open next year as incumbent Judy Boggs has already announced that she won’t be seeking re-election.
In other official filings in Worcester, State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby is seeking re-election as is Sheriff Reggie Mason. Also seeking the sheriff seat is George Truitt. Longtime Register of Wills Charlotte Cathell is seeking re-election. Three have filed for Judge of Orphan’s  Court including Bill Shockley, Linda Hess and Dale Smack. The date for the primary election is June 24, 2014 with the general election following on Nov. 4 2014.