Almost two dozen candidates filed petitions for the Athens County 2012 primaries, hoping to represent their parties in the battle for 10 elected positions come November.
An incumbent state representative and incumbent county commissioners, sheriff and treasurer all will face opposition from some of the 21 petitioners who filed for the spring races.
The deadline to submit a petition was Wednesday. As of today, the primaries are set for March. But Republicans in the state legislature might move them to May and combine them with Ohio's presidential primary.
Micah E. Martindale of Reedsville and Charles Richter of Little Hocking will compete for the Republican nomination for the area’s Ohio House seat. One will face off against Rep. Debbie Phillips, a Democrat who has held the 92nd District seat since 2009.
Phillips, Martindale and Richter are all running for the 94th District seat, instead of the 92nd, after state redistricting this year. The redrawn map, though, is on hold while Democrats rally voters for a referendum petition. The map also is being judicially challenged in southwest Ohio.
Two of the three Athens County commissioner seats are up for grabs in 2012, and both incumbents are hoping to keep hold of theirs.
The only Republican commissioner candidate, Larry Payne, will attempt to defend his seat against one of two Democrats, Charlie R. Adkins of Albany or Gary Edwards of Nelsonville.
Democrat Mark Sullivan, who has faced a barrage of domestic and legal troubles during the past year, will now face four other Democratic challengers in March.
In September, Sullivan said that, despite his strong performance on the job, some are looking to capitalize on the negative effects of the allegations.
Democrats Paul Smoke Barrett of Glouster, Robert Baughman of Nelsonville, Chris Chmiel of Albany, and Mike O’Brien of Shade are all vying for Sullivan’s Democratic nomination in the upcoming primary.
Although he will not face a Democratic challenger in March, Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly will attempt to retain his office against Republican challenger Steve Kane of Shade for the county’s top law-enforcement position.
And Athens County engineer incumbent Archie Stanley will construct a campaign against fellow Democratic challenger Rex Jeffery Maiden of The Plains.
Outgoing Athens City Council president and current Athens County Democratic Party chairman Bill Bias will vie for Athens County treasurer against a Libertarian opposer, Ohio University student Ibrahim Alassaf.
The remaining offices are held by Democrats who have filed for re-election.
The uncontested races include Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn; Athens County Clerk of Courts Ann Trout; Athens County Coroner Harold Clay Thompson; and Athens County Recorder Jessica Markins.
