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RALEIGH -- At exactly noon Monday, the State Board of Elections opened the doors for candidates wishing to run for for public office in 2012. More than 100 people filed on the first day with some new and returning faces.

Some of those faces were looking for a new challenge.

"This role is really a culmination of my life in public service," said former legislator Linda Coleman, who is now running for lieutenant governor. “It has been in education. It has been in economic development.”

The first candidate to step up for the open seat governor's race is Democratic Rep. Bill Faison. He says he is excited to get the campaign process started.

"I think that I am socially progressive and fiscally conservative," said Faison. “So I don't know what that gets you in mix. What I think I have is the ability to see problems and go after them and solve them.”

Faison is expected to face at least two primary opponents, but he says he is confident moving forward

“Of the ones that I have heard may file, I believe I am the better candidate,” he said.

This is just day one of the primary process and political observers say the coming days could be interesting this filing season.

“I think we will see some surprises,” says political analyst David McLennan. “But I think it will be later than we normally see. This is typically a period where people who have not been talked about publicly. Even big names have come into the race at various places.”

To see who filed for office, visit the N.C. Board of Elections website.