Published: June 03, 2008 11:55 am            

Races taking shape

Another candidate has filed for the Pittsburg County sheriff’s post, setting up a crowded field to see who will be elected as the next county sheriff.

Hartshorne Police Chief Jimmy Don Wilson became the fourth candidate to file for the office on Monday.

Pittsburg County Undersheriff Richard Sexton had been the first to file for the sheriff’s post when the filing period began on Monday morning.

He had been followed by retired McAlester police officer Nathan Bond and former Pittsburg County Deputy Joel Kerns. Incumbent Pittsburg County Sheriff Jerome “Snookie” Amaranto has said he’s not seeking re-election.

Another Pittsburg County race is set for the unexpired term for the District 3 county commission seat left vacant by the resignation of Randy Crone.

Doug Rose, the current District 3 foreman, made that a three-way race when he filed for the post this morning.

Both Trent Myers, who is the Pittsburg County Emergency Management director, and Donald Mathis, the road foreman for District 1 County Commissioner Gene Rogers, filed for the vacant District 3 post on Monday.

So far, Pittsburg County Court Clerk Cindy Eller, County Clerk Debbie Lenox Burch and District 2 County Commissioner Kevin Smith remain unopposed in their re-election bids.

The filing period for county offices extends through 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Pittsburg County Election Board’s offices in the Professional Building adjacent to McAlester City Hall.

In filings at the Oklahoma State Election Board office in Oklahoma City, District 7 state Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, filed for re-election for a four-year term in office.

District 17 state Rep. Dr. Brian Renegar, D-Blanco, and District 18 state Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester, filed for re-election to two-year terms.

As of this morning, all three Pittsburg County legislators remained unopposed in their re-election bids.

In federal filings, District 2 U.S. Rep. Dan Boren filed for another two-year term in Congress. He remained unopposed as of early today.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, has filed for re-election to another six-year term in office. So far, he’s drawn two Republican challengers: Evelyn L. Rogers, of Tulsa, and Dennis Lopez, of Thackerville.

Andrew Rice, of Oklahoma City, filed for the U.S. Senate seat as a Democratic candidate.

In the statewide Corporation Commission election, Republican Jeff Cloud, of Oklahoma City, filed for the full term which is up for election, while Republican Rob Johnson, of Kingfisher, filed for the unexpired term which will be on the ballot.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

        

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