As people in politics like to say now is the “silly season” as potential candidates try to make decisions about running for office.

Often there are deals, alliances, and maneuvering forged behind the scenes whether it pertains to clearing the field to avoid a potential party primary or who would support who for a candidacy.

There will be rumors, discussions and it won’t be long before there is a flurry of activity.

At this point, it has been slow for people to file candidacy petitions to run for races in The News-Herald’s coverage area, but there is still lots of time with a Feb. 5 deadline for partisan candidates to run in the May 6 primary.

Here are some of the latest developments:

Filed petitions

Cynthia Westcott Rice and Timothy P. Cannon, both Democrats, have filed with the Lake County Elections Board to run for re-election to the 11th District Court of Appeals bench in Warren. Dennis N. LoConti, a Mentor Democrat, has filed to run for Common Pleas Court judge for the Jan. 5, 2015 term.

Karen Lawson has filed to run for re-election as Lake County Juvenile Court judge.

Mary Samide has filed with the Geauga County Elections Board to run for re-election as commissioner to the Jan. 1, 2015 term.

Kent Smith, a Euclid Democrat, has filed with the Cuyahoga County Elections Board to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 8, which consists of Beachwood, East Cleveland, Euclid, Richmond Heights, South Euclid, Woodmere, and six precincts in Cleveland Ward 10.

Pulled petitions

Matthew E. Donovan has taken out petitions from the Lake County Elections Board to run for Mentor Council Ward 2. John R. Hamercheck, a Madison Village Republican, has taken out petitions to run for county commissioner.

Dale Fellows, who is Lake County Republican Party chairman, has taken out petitions to run for Ohio Republican Party 18th District state central committee. The district has the same boundaries as Ohio Senate District 18, which includes half of Lake County, two-thirds of Geauga County and all of Portage County.

Blake Rear, Walter Claypool and Lenore Pikus have taken out petitions from the Geauga County Elections Board to run for Geauga County commissioner. Frank Gliha has taken out petitions to seek re-election as county auditor. Tim Grendell has taken out petitions to run for re-election as county Probate/Juvenile Court judge.

Thaddeus J. Jackson, a Democrat, has pulled petitions from the Cuyahoga County Elections Board to run Ohio Senate District 25, which consists of half of Lake County and eastern communities in Cuyahoga County. Jerry V. Powell, a Republican, has taken out petitions to run for the same seat.

Ken Kirkland, a Democrat, has pulled petitions to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 8.

Anthony Fossaceca, a Democrat, and Marlene Anielski, a Republican, have taken out petitions to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 6, which includes Gates Mills, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, and Mayfield Village.

John Patterson, a Jefferson Village Democrat, has taken out petitions with the Ashtabula County Elections Board to run for re-election to Ohio House of Representatives District 99, which in Geauga County includes Aquilla Village, Chardon, and the townships of Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburg, Montville and Thompson.

Fundies

• Campaign kickoff for Lawson, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Lu Dunlap.
• Lake County Probate Court Judge Mark J. Bartolotta hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at LaMalfa Party Center. See John Redmond or Amy Sabath.
• John P. O’Donnell, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court, hosts a fundraiser 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, at LaMalfa Party Center. See Mike Lucas, Mike Bucci or Ann Bergen.
• Lake County Domestic Relations Court Judge Colleen A. Falkowski hosts a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 Jan. 30 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Brian Falkowski.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah