Four candidates filed for public office Tuesday in Logan County, setting up two more contested primaries.
Stephen Stratton, who has served as a deputy under Sheriff Wallace Whittaker, is running against him for the Democratic nomination for that office. Another man who has served as a deputy under Whittaker, Robert Matthews, is also running for sheriff as a Republican.
Stratton’s father, Steve Stratton, picked up a second opponent for the Democratic nomination for Fifth District magistrate this week. Auburn cattleman Barry Perkins filed Tuesday. Boyce Cole is also a candidate for that position, which is being voluntarily vacated by a four-term magistrate, Dr. Jo Orange. All three candidates are Democrats.
The Second District magistrate’s seat now is contested. Multi-term incumbent Jack Crossley drew competition Tuesday from Mike Weldon, who served multiple terms as a constable. Both are Democrats.
The fourth person to file this week is Darlene Gooch, who is running for another term on Russellville City Council. Four other incumbents—Jimmy Davenport, Pat Bell, Sandra Kinser and Jack Whipple—have also filed for reelection. The sixth incumbent, Larry Wilcutt, has not yet entered, nor has any challenger.
For a review of who else has entered races with a week remaining for filing, see a story on The LoJo at http://theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=news919.
The deadline to file for offices requiring a primary is next Tuesday, Jan. 30.