Three Scotland County residents declared their candidacies on Thursday, the day before filing closes.

Daniel Jermaine Dockery of 12580 Southwood Drive announced his intention to run for county commissioner of the Stewartsville District while the Rev. Darrel "B.J." Gibson, pastor of Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church in Wagram, and James Underwood Jr. have both filed to run for seats on the Scotland County Board of Education. Gibson is running in the Stewartsville Township with Underwood running at-large.

Dockery

Dockery will run against incumbents J.D. Willis and Guy McCook. A Democrat who currently serves on the Scotland County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Scotland County Planning and Zoning Board, he is also on the board of the Joyful Learning Academy, a daycare establishment that he owns.

As a county commissioner, Dockery said that he plans to focus "on reducing the tax rate and attracting and securing sustainable employment in our county. Also, (I plan) to bring our county government and county to a productive realm in this age of technology. Most importantly, placing government back to the citizens: 'We the people, for the people'."

Dockery holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religion and is certified in special education.

A media technology assistant at Sycamore Lane Middle School, Dockery and his wife Demita have four children: Fi'Yonnia, Fiondra, Faith, and Elisha.

Gibson asserted that his record of public service adequately compensates for his lack of service in an elected office.

"While I have no experience in public office, my experience in public service is proven as I serve as a pastor in this community and have done so for the past four years," Gibson said. "(I am) co-chairman of the Closing the Achievement Gap Task Force, co-founder of the Dress for Work Initiative, a member of the Scotland County Ministerial Alliance and Association, and the NAACP."

Gibson, who is single, listed no party affiliation.

Grandson of the late Ardelia Everett Ingram, "who reared me", Gibson said, and son of Darrel and Sharon Gibson, Sr., Gibson said that if elected the "norm of making promises" is not his plan.

"I am concerned with running because I perceive that the lives and opportunities for success of our young people appears to be on the line," Gibson said. "It is my desire to serve as a voice for all of the citizens, staff and mostly students of Scotland County to ensure in every matter that their best interest is at the forefront of every decision. I believe my youthfulness is an advantage because it enables me to be creative and inclusive of different strategies to ensure our school system creates every opportunity imaginable to ensure the success of every child."

A graduate of Scotland High School and a student at UNC-Pembroke, Gibson lives at 413 Avery Street in Laurinburg.

Gibson is challenging incumbents Jimmy R. Bennett and Calvin Newton and fellow challenger Jennifer E. O'Donnell.

Underwood, who did not provide information to The Laurinburg Exchange, is running against Rodney Hassler and incumbents Mary Evans and Paul F. Rush.

The deadline to file is today at noon.