Cowley County officially has its first contested county election race for the 2012 political season.
Ark City commissioner Patrick McDonald filed papers Tuesday morning to run for the 2nd Dist. county commission seat. McDonald, a Republican, would face Democrat Gary Wilson in the November election, assuming no other candidates were to file.
If other candidates filed, a primary would be necessary.
McDonald had recently indicated he planned to run for the position and had been doing some behind-the-scenes groundwork to gauge interest in his candidacy.
Wilson is seeking his third term.
In district 3 – a seat currently held by Alan Groom – Bill Rowe, of rural Winfield, has filed as a Democrat. Groom, a Republican, has thus far indicated he will not seek reelection to the seat he has held for four years.
Incumbents and potential candidates have until June 1 to make final decisions about whether to run for office or seek reelection.