Open filing for the 2008 election season begins today for candidates for state, county and municipal offices.

All 60 state House seats are up for election this year, as well as 15 of the 30 state Senate seats.

In Natrona County, Reps. Roy Cohee (HD35) and Tom Lockhart (HD57) have already publicly announced their intention to run for re-election. Fellow Republican Rep. Tim Stubson (HD56) has announced he will run for the seat to which he was appointed in February.

Rep. Lisa Shepperson (HD58) said she's filing first thing today, and Representatives Bob Brechtel (HD38), Mary Hales (HD36) and Steve Harshman (HD37) said they're planning to file for re-election as well. Rep. Mary Meyer Gilmore (HD59) said the she usually files later and is not ready to announce whether she's decided to run yet. Hales and Gilmore are Democrats.

Natrona County Sens. Kit Jennings (SD28), Bill Landen (SD27) and Charles Scott (SD30) have all decided to run for re-election. The seat held by Sen. Drew Perkins (SD29) is not up for election this year. All are Republicans.

Two Natrona County commission seats are up for election, and while commissioner Matt Keating said he'll run for re-election, commissioner Jon Campbell said he's not planning to run this term.

"I'm leaving my options open," Campbell said. "I would like to run for public office again, but not for commissioner this session."

Five city council seats in Casper, two in Mills, two in Evansville and two in Bar Nunn are also up for election in 2008. All of the city council seats up for election this year are four-year terms.

In Casper, elections will be held for two seats in Ward 1, two seats in Ward 2 and one seat in Ward 3.

Candidates for state offices file with the secretary of state, while candidates for county commissioner and other county offices file with county clerks. Candidates for municipal offices file with city and town clerks.

Filing must be completed by May 30.

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com

Thinking about running?

Here's who to contact to file for office during the filing period, which runs through May 30, for the Aug. 19 primary election:

*Candidates for state office, file with the secretary of state's office.

*Candidates for county offices file with their respective county clerks

*Candidates for municipal offices (city council) file with their respective city and town clerks.

*Applications cannot be filed by fax or electronically because state law requires original signatures.