The busiest political season in four years officially began Wednesday, and a couple of good guys kicked it off.

Coroner Jackie Dunlap was the first Logan Countian to file his candidacy papers for a county office, and Deputy Sheriff Scotty Harper became the first to make his announcement in the News-Democrat & Leader.

Dunlap's not running for reelection as coroner, however, and Harper's not running for sheriff.

Both want to succeed Kenny Chapman as county clerk. Other “good guys” are expected to join them.

Wedmesday was the first filing day because the general election would have been Tuesday, if Kentucky had held one.

Logan County probably will experience a rarity in 2006. Two of the long-time holders of the major offices say they are not going to run for reelection when their terms expire. Chapman has already officially announced that he doesn't plan to seek an eighth term. Judge/Executive Johnny Guion told the N-D&L Tuesday that he won't run again in 2006 after 17 years on the job.

Both positions will draw several capable candidates hoping to replace them.

Often the biggest offices feature an incumbent seeking reelection, and Logan Countians have a tendency to keep electing the same people. Three current incumbents assumed their positions in a mid-term. Ben Brown became property valuation administrator in the early 90s when Karl Dawson, who had been "tax assessor" for nearly half a century, resigned early in his twelfth term. Circuit Clerk Sherry Wilkins succeeded her long-term boss, Jim Nealy, in mid-term in 2002 and won a special election to fill out the term the following year.

Passing a test is required to run for those two offices, and it appears both will be unopposed this year. Tim Rainwaters has passed the PVA test again, as he does every four years, but traditionally he does not seek the office as a candidate.

Bill Jenkins was named jailer when Ray Max Sanders gave up the job in mid-term, and he has been reelected ever since. Jenkins filed for reelection Wednesday, the first day candidates could turn in their nomination papers. It’s not known whether he will be opposed or not for the difficult position.

The same is true for Sheriff Wallace Whittaker, who will complete his first term in 2006. He filed Wednesday, and no opponents are known as yet. His predecessor, Dannie Blick, was reelected for several successive turns before electing not to seek reelection in 2002.

It’s been a long, long time— if ever— since both the county judge and county clerk positions were both up for grabs without an incumbent as a candidate in either.

Dunlap’s candidacy for clerk also means a new coroner will be elected. It’s also very likely that from one to three members of Logan Fiscal Court will seek another office, vacating their magisterial seat.

Candidates for all those positions plus county attorney, mayor of Russellville and Russellville City Council must file in Chapman’s office by 4 p.m. Jan. 31.

Candidates for councils in the other three cities along with open mayor and school board positions are not subject to primaries and have until Aug. 8 to file for the November general election.

Candidates for multi-county positions such as U.S. Congress, state representative and judges must file by the January date with the Secretary of State,

The N-D&L will continue its policy of giving candidates one story which tells of their background and their candidacy. They are allowed to include up to 100 words about why they are running and why they feel they should be elected.

A candidate can ask for that story to be done now or wait until closer to the May primary election. The story must be done by six weeks before Election Day, however.

It’s part of political gamemanship to decide what is the optimum time to request the story.

Scottie Harper has chosen that it run immediately, and we’ve honored his request today.

Others will wait until the last minute.

Local elections are the most fun of them all. Let the games begin.