NEW BERN, N.C. – Craven County Democrats are moving closer to filling state representative William Wainwright's seat.

The New Bern Sun Journal reports the party had a three-hour meeting Saturday with precinct leaders in the district.

Wainwright represented N.C. House District 12 and had filed to run for another term when he died of cancer earlier in July.

Democrats will have meetings Friday to choose a candidate for Wainwright's current term and for the November election.

The nomination for the current term will go to the governor for approval and the nomination for candidate position will move on to the state party for vetting.