The April 3 election isn’t in the books yet, but already filings for the August primary election will soon close.
Prospective candidates may file for countywide and statewide seats, as well as for seats on the Jefferson County Council and on political party committees through 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 27.
A number of races have developed for the Aug. 7 primary, all among Republicans.
Dennis Gannon and Gary Stout II are seeking the Republican nomination for county executive, and Jeff Roorda has filed for the Democratic nomination.
Ken Waller, who last year announced he would not run for a third term as county executive, will instead run for the Republican nomination for county clerk, and is facing a primary challenge from Jeremy Day. So far, only the current county clerk, Randy Holman, has filed for the Democratic nomination.
Two Republicans and one Democrat also have filed for prosecuting attorney – Republicans Trisha Stefanski and Mark Bishop and Democrat Tom Hollingsworth.
Two Republicans are seeking their party’s nod for circuit clerk: incumbent Mike Reuter and Laurie Laiben. No Democrat had filed for the office as of Tuesday.
One Republican and one Democrat had filed for auditor – Republican Kristy Apprill and Democrat Charles M. Huey.
Democrat Beth Mahn will seek another term as collector, and Lisa “Brewer” Short is seeking the Republican nomination.
Only incumbent Debbie Dunnegan Waters, a Republican, has filed for recorder of deeds.
For County Council seats, District 1 incumbent Don Bickowski faces a challenge from Brian Haskins, and his counterpart in District 7, Jim Terry, has drawn a challenge from Christian Taylor.
The appointees to the County Council – Phil Hendrickson (District 3), a Republican, and Dan Darian (District 5), a Democrat, have filed for full four-year terms; no challenger from among the ranks of their party have yet to come forward, but a Republican, Tracey Perry, has filed for District 5.
For spots on the Jefferson County 23rd Circuit Court, only Republicans have filed: incumbent Wes Yates and Joe Rathert in Div. 1; Brenda Stacey (the current Div. 11 associate circuit judge) in Div. 4; incumbent Vic Mellenbrink in Div. 5 and incumbent Troy Cardona, formerly a Democrat, in Div. 6.
Similarly, only Republicans have filed for each of the associate judgeships on the ballot: Jeffrey Coleman (Div. 10); Ed Page (Div. 11); incumbent Tony Manansala (Div. 12); incumbent Katherine Hardy Senkel (Div. 13); incumbent Tim Miller (Div. 14) and incumbent Shannon Dougherty, a former Democrat (Div. 15).
As for seats in the state House of Representatives, Democrat Mike Revis, who earlier this year won a special election to fill the 97th District vacancy, has filed for re-election. David Linton, Phil Amato and Mary Elizabeth Coleman are seeking the Republican Party’s nomination.
Other seats:
District 110: Republicans Dottie Bailey and Matt Doell and Democrat Cody Kelley.
District 111: Republicans Shane Roden, the incumbent, and Gary Bonacker, and Democrats Phoebe Ottomeyer and Tim Stefanski.
District 112: Republican Rob Vescovo, the incumbent, and Democrat Benjamin Hagin.
District 113: Republican Dan Shaul, the incumbent, and Democrat Karen Settlemoir-Berg.
District 114: Republican Becky Ruth, the incumbent, and Democrat Dennis McDonald.
District 115: Republican Elaine Freeman Gannon, the incumbent.
District 118: Republicans Mike McGirl, Kyle Bone and Chuck Hoskins, and Democrats Brian Ridenour and Barbara Marco.
The District 22 state Senate seat has drawn the attention of the incumbent, Paul Wieland, a Republican, Democrat Robert Butler and Libertarian Richie Camden.