Justin Draughn had it in the back of his mind that he wanted to seek a local political office some day.

Then county commissioners decided to change the way sales taxes are distributed, taking money away from the towns and sending it to the county coffers.

“The recent redistribution of taxes proposal is what fueled my decision to run. Mocksville, Cooleemee and Bermuda Run need a voice,” he said.

The problem: he wanted to seek one of the three county commission seats being elected this November, but it was too late for the registered Republican to get his name on the ballot for the March primary.

So a signature campaign was started. He had to get 1,127 signatures of registered voters. He turned in 1,555 signatures to the Davie Board of Elections, and according to Elections Director Tabatha Parrish, 1,337 were valid and verified.

After paying his filing fee and filling out a notice of candidacy, Draughn’s name will appear on the November ballot as an unaffiliated candidate, giving residents a choice from among him, and incumbents Richard Poindexter, Mark Jones and Terry Renegar.