RALEIGH – Democrats are mounting a challenge to try to regain the majority on the Wake County Board of Commissioners, saying the county’s status as a progressive example for the rest of the state is at stake.

Four Democratic contenders have emerged, one for each seat that’s open in the fall election. The four seats all are currently held by Republicans, who will try to keep the majority they gained in 2010…

… Sig Hutchinson, a former Dale Carnegie Sales Course instructor who now runs his own consulting and professional speaking business, has worked with the board of commissioners for years on green-space issues and has worked to get Wake voters to pass bond issues for open space, parks, transportation and affordable housing.

He has been especially upset by the current board’s decision to add a restriction on the use of voter-approved open space bonds that means the county will no longer help fund greenways in municipalities. Hutchinson said he also believes the board of commissioners needs to stop fighting with the school board, and that it must engage in planning public transit for the future.

Hutchinson, 61, will run against Joe Bryan in District 1.