Tuesday's filing

Tuesday's filing includes locals Jacoby, Marek

Two greater Johnson County area legislators joined the Day Two group of candidates turning their papers in to the Secretary of State.

Six-packer Larry Marek filed in Washington County based House 89. Marek won by 157 votes to gain Sandy Greiner's open seat for the Dems, but has ruffled labor feathers by opposing some of their top priority bills.

Rep. Dave Jacoby (D-Coralville) filed in House 30. Dave hasn't has a serious challenge since his three-to-one special election win in the summer of `03.

No statewide or congressional candidates threw their names in the hat on Tuesday. The only state Senate candidate to file was Landslide Rich Olive (D-Story City), one of 2006's big surprises, in Senate 5.

All other action was on the House side. Republican Roger Billings filed in House 73, and is up on the web. What's interesting is that this is fellow Republican Jodi Tymeson's seat, adding more fuel to the buzz that Tymeson is in the lieutenant governor mix for Bob Vander Plaats. (Pre-primary LG announcement?) Tymeson won with 61% last time. With neighboring House 74 open and Kent Sorensen's high profile challenge to Sen. Stacy Appel, Warren County and environs will be a hot spot this fall.

In House District 2 in Sioux City, Republican Rick Bertrand is running again. Sadly, the seriously ill incumbent Democrat, Roger Wendt, is not. Bertrand came up 280 votes short in 2008 (that one was also called as a GOP gain for a few hours on Election Night till the absentees got counted.)

Republican insurance agent Michael Breitbach of Strawberry Point filed against incumbent Dem Roger Thomas in House 24. Thomas was unopposed two years ago.

Finally, Ottumwa Democrat Mary Gaskill (House 93) filed for re-election.