Filing for the 2012 May primary, which will feature federal races, including the election of a U.S. President, remains somewhat slow across the state as the 2011 year winds down.

The deadline to file petitions to be placed on the May ballot is Tuesday, January 31. Some filings can take place at local county clerk’s offices, while those seeking a state or federal seat are required to file with the Secretary of State’s Office in Frankfort by 4 p.m. prevailing time on that date.

Although most candidates to be nominated for their respective party’s seats will involve either state or federal offices, there is some local flavor to the 2012 primary, as the offices of Circuit Court Clerk and 40th Circuit Commonwealth’s Attorney will be on the ballot. There will also possibly be some federal and state races, such as House of Representatives (Congress) and state House of Representative if two or more people of the same party file in the primary.

Federal races that will involve Clinton County will include that of Congress in the First District, as well as possibly helping to choose a Presidential nominee. There will be no U.S. Senate race in Kentucky in 2012. Those individuals serve six-year terms and the junior member from Kentucky, Rand Paul, was elected just last year and senior senator and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is not up for re-election until 2014.

As of press deadline Tuesday, December 27, only one local candidate had officially filed for re-election and no other candidates that will be on the local ballot in races had filed either locally or with the Secretary of State.

On January 10, the State Board of Elections will convene to nominate Presidential preference candidates for those who have qualified for matching federal funds and January 31 will be the last day for Presidential hopefuls to file petitions to be on the May primary ballot in Kentucky.

Drawing for candidate positions on the ballot will be held February 2 in both local clerk’s offices and the office of Secretary of State. Also, April 1 is the deadline for any independent candidate, other than federal office, or non-partisan races, to file as candidates in the primary.

The last day for new voters to file registration forms to be eligible to vote in next year’s primary is April 23, 2012.

Although there have been few local candidates who represent Clinton County in districts to file so far, some races have seen candidates file up to this point.

In the 53rd State House district, composed of Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe and Monroe counties, three Republicans have already filed for that seat, including Charles Kirby Copas and Bart Rowland, both of Tompkinsville and Freddy Harbison of Edmonton. Also, in the 57th Circuit Commonwealth’s Attorney race, incumbent Republican Matthew Leveridge has filed for re-election. That district is composed of Russell and Wayne counties.

The Clinton County News will continue to update the public on candidates who file for office, either locally or in districts which Clinton County is included, throughout the filing period.