The weather is still hot and schools haven’t yet started, but the 2012 fall political campaign is now more or less officially underway in Albany and Clinton County, as four persons have already tossed their hats in the ring for some non-partisan races that will appear on several precinct ballots in November.

All six seats that make up Albany City Council, as well as three of the five seats that comprise the Clinton County Board of Education, are up for election this fall. Those districts include the 2nd District (Seventy-Six and Cave Springs), the 3rd District (Highway, Illwill and Speck), and District Four (North, East and West Albany) precincts.

There may still also be races in the 3rd and 5th Magisterial Districts to fill unexpired terms, depending on whether or not the local Democrat party chooses nominees in those districts to run against the already nominated Republican party candidates.

The filing deadline for all non-partisan races is Tuesday, August 14 at 4 p.m. local prevailing time, with the drawing for ballot positions to take place two days later in the County Clerk’s Office.

As of noon Saturday, July 21, four people–including three incumbents–had filed, and three of the four candidates thus far are running for school board.

In the 2nd school board district, both incumbent and current board chairman Ned Davis as well as Kenny Stinson had originally filed for the seat, however on Monday of this week, Clinton County Clerk Jim Elmore informed the Clinton County News that Stinson had withdrawn from the race.

In the 3rd District, incumbent Paula Key has filed for a second term for school board.

In the races for the Albany City Council seats, incumbent city councilwoman Tonya Thrasher is the first to file for a city council seat.

Those local races, coupled with it being a Presidential election year, may mean a heavier than average turnout at the polls in Clinton County on general election day, as at least nine of the 13 total county precincts may have at least one local race in which to cast a ballot.

Another important date for new voters, or those who have had their names removed due to not voting in several years, is that of October 9. That is the final day a person can register to vote in time to be eligible to cast a ballot in the November election.

The Clinton County News will publish weekly updates on local candidates as they file for respective office through the filing deadline period in mid-August.