Following the lead of Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren, one of the county commissioners is starting the 2012 election season early.
But while Warren announced last week he will not seek re-election, County Commissioner Mark Sullivan said yesterday he plans to seek re-election next year.
Sullivan, one of the county's three commissioners, took out a petition Jan. 24 to be included on the 2012 ballot.
I've always kept my campaign committee open
said Sullivan, adding that a campaign member told him petitions for the 2012 election could be taken out.
In order to be included on the March 2012 primary ballot, candidates for county positions must
turn in 50 signatures by December.
The terms of both Sullivan and fellow commissioner Larry Payne will be up next year - but Payne said he's not ready to announce whether he will seek to retain his office.
Obviously it's something I've thought a lot about Payne said. But it's still a little early.
Payne is one of only two countywide Republican office holders in Athens County.
Athens' third county commissioner, Lenny Eliason, isn't up for re-election until 2014.
First elected in 1998, Sullivan will have spent nearly 14 years in office when voters hit the polls next year.
However, a string of negative headlines could hinder his re-election bid.
In September, Sullivan was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct after being arrested at a Nelsonville bar.
He agreed to pay $360 in fines.
Despite the arrest, Sullivan said he's confident he'll be elected to another term.
I think that people have a positive outlook toward what county office holders are doing Sullivan said.
He pointed to the commissioners' ability to guide the county through a rough budgetary climate as one of their greatest strengths.
We did a really good job of predicting what revenue levels were going to be
Sullivan said. We have had some reductions
but we've avoided major cuts.
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Wesley Lowery
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Mark Sullivan
