Submitted photo George ‘Russ’ Collett, right, filed to run for public office at the Randolph County Courthouse. Employee Karla Mahanes, left, gathered the paperwork from Collett, who will be vying for the Randolph County Commission’s Tygart District seat.

ELKINS — The number of candidates filing to run for public office in the May 12 West Virginia Primary Election in Randolph County has grown, with a four-way race for County Commission taking shape.

Chris See, the Democrat who currently holds the County Commission seat, and Republican Joseph Owens both entered the race on the opening day of the filing period on Jan. 12. Since then, two others have filed to run for the office — Democrat Steve Wamsley and Republican George “Russ” Collett.

Collett is a former principal at Elkins High School, who spent a total of 15 years in the Randolph County Schools system. He is currently the Superintendent of Schools in Hampshire County.

Wamsley has been the principal at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School since 2007, and is the Vice President of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Association Board of Directors.

Owens currently works as the Director of Property Operations for three different real estate firms owned by Jonathan Kyle.

Nanci Bross-Fregonara, an Elkins City Council Fourth Ward representative, filed on opening day for the Democratic Executive Committee. Cindy Stemple and Raymond Godwin have both also filed for the Randolph County Democratic Executive Committee.

County Commissioner David Kesling has filed to run for both the Republican Executive and Republican District Executive Committees, and Gretchen Price filed to run for the Randolph County Republican Executive Committee.

“We had several come in and file since the period began last week, but we still haven’t had anyone come in and file for the Board of Education yet,” Randolph County Clerk Brenda Wiseman told The Inter-Mountain Tuesday. “But people have all of this week and next week to come in and file for office.”

Three Randolph County Board of Education seats will be on the ballot in the May 12 election, and candidates filing for the seats can be from any of the three districts, Cheat, Elkins or Tygart. The seats that will be available are currently held by Dr. Phil Chua, Dr. Sherri Collett and Janie Newlon.

The filing period runs through Jan. 31, and candidates running for office can file in person at the Randolph County Clerk’s office. Those running for statewide and legislative offices, state executive committee offices, and judicial offices (excluding magistrates) must file with the Secretary of State’s Office.

All relevant West Virginia election information, including forms, deadlines, guidance, and a list of candidates can be found at GoVoteWV.com. The last day for residents to register to vote or make any changes to voter registration is on April 21.