Schuylkill County candidates have filed their petitions to be on the ballot in the May 16 primary election by the March 7 deadline.

Of the races, the Republican contest for county commissioner is drawing the most attention.

Eight candidates are vying for the GOP nomination for a place on the November General Election ballot.

Incumbents Barron L. Hetherington and George F. Halcovage Jr. are both running for re-election.

Halcovage was first elected in 2012; Hetherington was appointed in 2020 to replace the late Frank J. Staudenmeier.

They’re competing with Clerk of Courts Maria T. Casey, Minersville; Jeffrey Dunkel, Palo Alto; Larry Padora, New Ringgold; Mary Jo Moss, Orwigsburg; Dan Evans, Tamaqua; and Ray Jones, Ashland.

On the Democratic side, incumbent Gary J. Hess is campaigning for another term in office. Also running is Rita Anczarski Baldino, Kline Township.

Republican incumbents Sharyn Yackenchick, controller; Ann Dudish, Recorder of Deeds; and Bridget McGowan Miller, prothonotary, are running unopposed.

For the office of treasurer, Republican incumbent Linda L. Yeich and Democrat Joseph Post are seeking their party’s nod.

Democrat Jesseca Sickle and Republican Crista DiCasimirro are running for clerk of courts.

Democrat Thomas C. McCabe and Republican incumbent Theresa Santai Gaffney are seeking a spot on the November ballot as register of wills.

Republican Dr. David Moylan is seeking to retain his seat as coroner.

There are two candidates to fill the spot of retired Judge William Baldwin on the county court bench.

They are Democrat District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake and Republican William Burke.

Republican Andrew J. Serena is campaigning for a full term in the magisterial district court, Orwigsburg. He was appointed last July by then-Governor Tom Wolf to take the place of District Judge James R. Ferrier, who retired in May 2021.

Tamaqua District Judge Stephen J. Bayer is campaigning for another term.