The Henderson-Vance Black Leadership Caucus endorsed candidates for the upcoming Mar. 3 primary election at a meeting on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Among local candidates that got the official backing of the group are incumbents Curtis Brame for Vance County Sheriff and school board members Gloria Jefferson White and Randy Oxendine, according to information from Terry Garrison, president of the local caucus.

The group voted to endorse Curtis McRae for N.C. House District 32 seat, Angela Lyons for the District 7 seat on the Vance County Board of Education and Eric Burwell for Clerk of Superior Court.

Former Gov. Roy Cooper got the endorsement for his U.S. Senate contest and James Whalen got the nod for the N.C. Court of Appeals contest.

Although Cooper and Whalen were not present at the caucus, Garrison said they both sent messages that were relayed to the group during the event.

Garrison said he was pleased with how things went. “I am pleased with the process,” he said. “We had a great attendance,” he added, caucus members and non-caucus members alike were present at the event, which took place in the county commissioners’ meeting room.

Ayana Lewis served as moderator of the event’s question-and-answer format.