The Russellville mayoral race will now be contested as former city council member Mark Stratton filed to run for the office on Friday.

Stratton said he had been contemplating a run for mayor for several months, but did not make his final decision until late last week.

“I’ve always been a faith-based guy, so I prayed about it a lot,” Stratton said. “I talked to my family and weighed all the pros and cons and decided that this is just what I need to do.”

Stratton completed two terms on the council and had registered to run a third time before pulling his name out of the election.

“At that time I felt like it was the right thing to do,” Stratton said.

He then changed his mind and ran as a write-in, but was not voted in a third time.

“When I first ran for the council, I thought I would do it for three terms and then run for mayor,” Stratton said. “I wanted to see up close how the city operates and how it runs – the good and the bad.

“There is not going to be any second guessing this time. Unless something drastic happens – like I die – then there won’t be any pulling out.”

Stratton will be running against current city councilman Doug Nash, who was voted on to the council after Stratton pulled his name off the ballot in 2008.

If elected, Stratton, who is only 51-years-old, will be one of the youngest mayors Russellville has had in quite some time.

Because the position is only considered a part-time job with an approximate $16,000 per year salary, most mayors in recent years have retirees.

Stratton currently works paint contractor.

“I can’t live down there, but I am self-employed and flexibility is one of the things that goes along with my job,” Stratton said. “The people that were on the council know how hard I worked when I was on there and it won’t be any different if I am lucky enough to be the mayor.”

Current mayor Gene Zick has not yet said what he intends to do, but is expected to make an announcement this week about his intentions.

In addition to Stratton, several others have been busy filing to run for Russellville city council.

On Monday, former mayor and council member Shirlee Yassney and former Russellville code enforcement officer Bill Decker filed to run for city council.

Current council members Jack Whipple, Jimmy Davenport and Lanny McPherson all filed last week. Joe Laird and Pat Bell had already filed for office.

Candidates have until 4 p.m. on January 26th to file at the Logan County Clerk’s Office.

Logan County’s three other cities – Auburn, Adairville and Lewisburg – will also be electing their councils, but as of Monday, no on had yet to file for office.