KEYSER, W.Va. — The growing list of Mineral County precandidates for 2010 includes two House of Delegates hopefuls and contests for county commissioner, county clerk and circuit clerk.

Republican Gary G. Howell of Keyser and Democrat Charles Messick of Ridgeley filed precandidate papers with the secretary of state to vie for the 49th District seat in the House of Delegates. The seat is currently held by Republican Robert A. Schadler of Keyser, who has served in the Legislature for 12 years.

Schadler filed as a precandidate for Mineral County circuit clerk. Republican Krista Dixon and Democrat Gary Simmons also filed precandidate papers for that office, currently held by Republican Mary Margaret Rinehart.

Republican Richard Lechliter, the current mayor of Ridgeley, filed precandidate papers to run for the open Mineral County Commission seat against Democrat incumbent Wayne Spiggle. Spiggle, who now serves as commission president, was first elected in 2004.

Republican challenger Ralph Rice filed precandidate papers to take on incumbent Republican Lauren Ellifritz of Keyser in her bid for re-election as county clerk.

Michael McDowell and William Wahl Jr. filed as precandidates for seats on the Mineral County Board of Education.

Ellifritz stressed that filing as a precandidate does not require a person to run for office or to run for the same office as indicated on the paperwork.

It simply allows potential candidates to form a committee, name a treasurer and start taking in and spending money for their election campaign.

If they still intend to seek office, precandidates must file as candidates, and can do so from Jan. 11 until Jan. 30, 2010. Candidates for county offices file at the Mineral County Clerk’s office, while candidates for state offices file at the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office.