Filing for local office has continued to slow over the past few weeks after a fast start and now with just over four weeks before the primary election filing deadline in early January.

Over the past week, two individuals declared their candidacy for county offices, both Republicans.

Michael Rayburn became the third candidate for Clinton County Judge/Executive, while Jason Pittman filed for the office of Magistrate of the Second District, consisting of the Hayes-Maupin and Nora precincts. He becomes the third candidate for that seat.

The total number of local candidates (city and county only) through Monday of this week, December 6 stood at 35 total.

Taking in all races, such as judicial seats, state and federal offices that will appear on the Clinton County ballot, so far there are over 40 total candidates who have filed either in their local county clerk’s office or with the Secretary of State’s office in Frankfort.

Of the local offices, only two candidates have filed for city races, one each for mayor and city council. No one has filed for either of the two school board seats that will be on the 2022 ballot, and 33 total candidates that have filed so far locally are running for some type of county office.

Non-partisan races, such as city and school board seats, have until early June of next year to declare their candidacy.

Some 13 of the total 33 county-wide candidates are running for a magisterial seat and the most sought after office thus far is jailer, where five candidates have filed, with four having filed for sheriff.

Insofar as county races only, all candidates are Republicans and only one female has filed in a county race as of Monday of this week.

The NEWS will continue a weekly candidate update of local candidates and periodic listing of other races through the primary filing period in January and continue with monthly reports of filing through the early June filing deadline involving non-partisan races.