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Orphy Klempa, Don Nickerson File for Ohio County Commission

WHEELING — There will be a contested race for an Ohio County Commission seat in 2018.

The first day of 2018 election filings kicked off Monday in West Virginia, with Ohio County Commissioner Orphy Klempa, a Democrat, filing for re-election, and Wheeling resident Don Nickerson entering the race as a Republican.

Klempa, elected in 2012, is completing his first term as commissioner. Nickerson has been an attorney in Wheeling for the past 30 years.

Filings on Monday were fewer than is usually expected on the first day of filing season.

Likely to be among the most-watched elections nationally will be the race for a West Virginia’s U.S. Senate seat presently occupied by Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

Political newcomer Thomas (Tom) Willis of Martinsburg filed as a Republican in the Senate race on Monday, and was the only candidate to file in the race Monday. Others who have announced plans to seek the seat on the Republican ticket include U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va.; West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey; and former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.

Manchin has indicated he will seek re-election on the Democratic side.

Those wanting to run for public office in West Virginia this year have until Jan. 27 to file the paperwork and pay any necessary fees.

Candidates for county office in most cases file with their respective county clerk’s offices, but in Ohio County filings are submitted to the county commission office.

State and national office filings are received in the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. Local lawmakers already are in Charleston for the upcoming session, and a number of local incumbents filed for re-election Monday with the secretary of state’s office. They were Sen. Charles Clements, a Republican representing the 2nd District; Delegate Pat McGeehan, a Republican in the 1st District; Delegate Joe Canestraro, a Democrat in the 4th District; and Delegate Dave Pethtel, a Democrat representing the 5th District.

B.B. (Raymond) Smith — a longtime employee of the West Virginia Auditor’s Office presently working for the state treasurer’s office — filed as a Democrat in the race for Wetzel County Commission.

In Hancock County, Charles L. Pugh filed candidacy in the non-partisan race for conservation district supervisor.

There were no filings reported Monday in Brooke, Marshall or Tyler counties.

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