They haven't announced campaign intentions yet, but three of Durham's incumbent county commissioners appear financially well-positioned for re-election runs this year.

According to reports filed with the Durham County Board of Elections in late January, Commissioner Joe Bowser's campaign committee has a balance of $3,377.03, and the Committee to Re-elect Ellen Reckhow has $2,955.68. Commissioner Brenda Howerton's last financial last report, filed in August, showed a total of $3,654.60.

Challengers for the county board's five seats have a way to go to catch up.

Declared candidates Will Wilson's and Wendy Jacobs' committees have $389.66 and $250, respectively. Fred Foster and Omar Beasley have also registered organizations, but their first financial statements were not due before this edition of The Durham News went to press.

Pam Karriker, who is serving out the term of retired Commissioner Becky Heron, has said she does not intend to seek election this year. Commissioners Chairman Michael Page does not have an active committee, according to Board of Elections records.

Two unsuccessful candidates in the last county commissioners race, in 2008, have shown no interest in trying again but still have a little cash on hand in case they do: Don Moffitt's still-active campaign committee had a balance of $1,540.75 at last report, and that of Josh Parker had $450.02.

Candidate filing for 2012 elections opens Feb. 13. Besides five county commissioners, local races include three school board seats and six in the General Assembly. The term of school board Chairwoman Minnie Forte-Brown expires this year, as do those of board members Leigh Bordley and Heidi Carter. Board of Elections records show only Bordley with money in her campaign account: $791.17.

Attorney Kerry Sutton has announced her candidacy for one of the state Senate seats representing Durham County. According to her report filed with the Board of Elections, Sutton has raised $10,650. Floyd McKissick, who holds the other Senate seat, had $16,625.82 to campaign with at his August report but has been actively raising money.

Other incumbents' campaign kitties, though, pale by comparison with that of incumbent state Rep. H.M. "Mickey" Michaux, who reported $71,760.85 in hand as of Jan. 18. His fellow state House incumbents Larry Hall and Paul Luebke reported $3,568.32 and $4,804.80, respectively.

Having just won re-election, Mayor Bill Bell won't need to think about running for office until 2013, but he is already in comfortable shape. His campaign fund still has a balance of $10,588.67 - enriched in no small part by his fellow Democratic mayor, Michael Bloomberg of New York City. Billionaire Bloomberg donated $4,000 to Bell's campaign just before last fall's election, which Bell won with 82 percent of the vote.