Deadline to file is Dec. 16

Whether Lawrence County Commissioner Bill Pratt has competition in the upcoming Republican primary remains unknown, but two prominent Democrats want to unseat Pratt in November 2016.

On Nov. 12, Ironton businessman Jon Ferguson filed to run in the March 15 Democratic primary.

Earlier in the month former county commissioner Doug Malone filed to run in that primary. Ironton businessman and Democrat Tim Edwards picked up a petition, but has not filed.

So far no Republican, except for Pratt, has filed on that side of the aisle. However, Ohio University professor David Lucas did pick up a petition for that race.

If commission president Les Boggs runs for his third term, he will face Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship in the spring Republican primary, who filed on Wednesday.

Boggs was already facing competition in November when Coal Grove businesswoman DeAnna Holliday filed to run as a Democrat. Boggs picked up his petition in May but has not filed yet.

Petitions for the March 15 primary must be filed by Dec. 16 and have at least 50 valid signatures of registered voters and no more than 150 names.