Senator Owens Brown filed today on the Democratic ticket for the 1st District Senate Seat. Brown, who was appointed in December by Gov. Jim Justice to fill the unexpired term of Sen. William Ihlenfeld, will face former Delegate Randy Swartzmiller in the May Primary. To date, no Republican has filed for the seat. As of press time, Del. Pat McGeehan (R-1st District) and Del. Mike Zatezalo (R-2nd District) remain unchallenged.

Four candidates will now vie for the Republican nomination for the 2nd District Congressional Seat. Congressman David McKinley and Congressman Alex Mooney have now been joined by Susan B. Lochocki of Morgantown and Mike Seckman of West Union. Democrat Angela Dwyer of Morgantown has filed as a Democrat for the seat..

Two additional candidates have filed for the Hancock County School Board. Jim Horstman and Philip Rujak, who both reside in Clay District will join Christina Fair and Board President Danny Kaser on the non-partisan ballot. Jim Anderson has filed for the non-partisan District Conservation Supervisor.

Kathy Link is the sole candidate to file for the Hancock Democrat Executive Committee. Both Democrat and Republican Executive Committees will be elected in the Primary. A male and female member from Grant, Clay and Butler Magisterial District will be elected..

As the deadline for filing nears, no Democrat has filed for the Hancock County Commission, Circuit Clerk and County Clerk . Republicans Ted Arneault, Jr., Paul Rex Cowey and Bret Lemley have filed for the Clay District County Commission seat while Republicans Valerie Truax and Karan Valenti have filed for County Clerk. As of 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, Sandy Casto, a Republican, is unopposed for the Circuit Clerk’s position.