N.C. Rep. Jeff Collins is among a handful of candidates who have filed this week for election or re-election.

Collins, R-Nash, is seeking a second term in the N.C. House.

“I want to try to help finish the job we started,” Collins said.

He said lawmakers were able to get the budget in line and fully fund the state retirement plan this year, but they still are working to plug holes created by “Democratic mismanagement” over the years.

The state owes about $2.7 billion it borrowed from the federal government to pay for unemployment benefits.

“We’ve got to finish getting our fiscal house in order,” Collins said. “We’ve still got some holes to climb out of.”

Collins said he is proud of several bills that have passed that favor individuals over government. Those bills include new annexation laws that give property owners a right to petition when their land is being annexed and legislation giving tax breaks to businesses.

“We’re trying to make North Carolina a more friendly place to work and do business,” he said.

The state needs to make its regulatory system one that is not crippling to economic development, Collins said.

Two others filed for election this week.

Carol Furlough Ruffin is challenging incumbent James Alford to represent Ward 4 on the Tarboro Town Council. Garland Shepheard also filed to run for a position on the Tarboro Town Council. He is vying to represent Ward 8.

Filing ends Wednesday.