Election action: The second week of election filings opens today at boards of elections across the state, including in Guilford and Forsyth. Between now and Feb. 28, when filing closes, it’s a reasonable assumption that Democrat Kay Hagan will file for reelection for her US Senate seat, and NC House Speaker Thom Tillis — considered the frontrunner in the Republican primary — will officially challenge her. US Rep. Virginia Foxx, a five-term Republican lawmaker who represents North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, has already filed.

A slew of candidates have announced plans to run for open seats in the other two congressional districts that carve up Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point. Republicans Mark Walker, Zack Matheny, Mike Causey and Bruce VonCannon, along with Democrats Bruce Davis and Laura Fjeld have already for the 6th Congressional District seat vacated by Howard Coble, while Phil Berger Jr., Dan Collison and Don Webb are expected to enter the GOP primary. Meanwhile, Democrats Alma Adams and Malcolm Graham have filed for the 12th Congressional District seat vacated when Mel Watt was confirmed as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, but Marcus Brandon, George Battle, James Mitchell and Curtis Osborne have also made it clear that they have designs on the seat.

The real fun is the surprises. Last week, we saw former Greensboro City Councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small jump into the Guilford County Commission race to replace Bruce Davis in District 1, and retired Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Don Martin’s decision to challenge Mark Baker for his seat on the Forsyth County Commission. Stay tuned.

A life in the arts: Adele Wayman: A Retrospective, 1962-2014 opens at the Guilford College Art Gallery. The show features more than 50 works from the artist and professor, who while be retiring from Guilford College in May.

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