Anyone wanting to run for office in North Carolina this year has until noon today to get the paperwork in.

In years past, some candidates waited until the last minute to file with the State Board of Elections — the better to surprise their opponents.

Gary Bartlett, executive director of the elections board, said former congressional candidate Vernon Robinson was famous for last-minute filing. But Bartlett's favorite story involves four District Court judges from Cumberland County who all showed up in person on the last day of filing.

Each of the four was determined to file for a Superior Court post if any of the others did, Bartlett recalls. But none of them would make the first move. As the minutes ticked toward noon, they sat in the lobby in a standoff until finally one stood up.

With blogs and e-mail keeping political activists in touch, Bartlett said, it's increasingly hard to keep the lid on a candidacy until filing day.

"Now that we're in the open information age, the surprise element has pretty much gone out the window," he said. (more…)