Independent candidates can circulate petitions to get on the ballot starting today. Independent candidates have until May 25 to file those petitions, according to the county Board of Elections. Independent candidates are common in this area, so the list of people running for office is likely to grow.

The primary elections in Keene and Jay will be June 22.

In Keene, incumbent Joe Pete Wilson Jr. and challenger Corianne Favro have both filed to run on the Democratic line for town supervisor. Kimberly Smith and Anna Whitney have both filed to run for town clerk on the Republican party line. Four Democratic candidates — incumbents Robert Biesemeyer and Teresa Cheetham-Palen, and challengers Sadie Kaltenbach and Richard Smith — have filed to run for two town council seats. There is also one Republican candidate for council, Mary Lawrence.

In Jay, incumbent Archie Depo and challenger Matthew Stanley have both filed to run on the Democratic line. Two Republican candidates have filed for the highway superintendent seat, Kevin Lincoln and John Roy. Incumbent Carol Greenley-Hackel is the only candidate so far for town clerk, and Lori Ducharme is the only candidate for tax collector, both running on the Republican line. In total, four candidates are vying for two town council seats. Incumbent town Councilor Knut Sauer has filed to run for re-election on the Democratic party line. Olivia Dwyer has also filed on the Democratic party line, Stephen Forbes and Wayne Frederick on the Republican party line.

So far in the town of North Elba, Supervisor Jay Rand has filed to run for reelection on the Republican party line. Rand won his seat in 2019. The supervisor position carries a two-year term. Rick Preston has filed to run on the Republican party line for one of two town council seats up for election this year. There is also a town justice seat up for election. Rand and Preston are the only two candidates who have filed in North Elba so far, though independent party candidates are common in this area. There may be more candidates when the deadline for independent petitions passes.

Roy Holzer has filed to run on the Republican party line for reelection to Wilmington’s town supervisor seat. Dawn Stevens is running for town clerk/tax collector on the Republican party line. Tina Preston and Stephanie Gates have filed to run on the Republican line for town council, and incumbent Highway Superintendent Louis Adragna is running for reelection on the Republican party line.

Kristy Sprague has filed to run for reelection on the Conservative and Republican party lines for Essex County’s district attorney position. Incumbents Jay Heald and Kellie Valentine have filed to run on the Republican line for Essex County coroner.