• Tate MacQueen, a high school soccer coach whose activism in battling pollution has been compared to that of Erin Brockovich, is the first Democrat to announce interest in running for the 10th U.S. Congressional District seat held by Republican Patrick McHenry.
• Special superior court Judge Lucy Inman, a Democrat, raised more than $135,000 in 2013 for her race for the state Court of Appeals. Her Republican opponent, District Court Judge William Southern III, has not announced his fundraising totals.
• Skip Watkins, who lost a close race for Wilmington City Council in 2013, said he’ll run for an open seat on the New Hanover County commission that’s being vacated by retiring Commissioner Tom Wolfe.
• Triad radio talk-show host Bill Flynn, who’s running in the crowded Republican primary for the 6th Congressional District seat now held by retiring Rep. Howard Coble, lost his campaign manager, Dome reports.
