Watson files to run in Dunkirk

Three Dunkirk incumbents became the first to file to run for office in the city.
Mayor Dan Watson, clerk-treasurer Phonnie Kesler and city councilman Jack Robbins, all Democrats, filed to run for re-election.
Watson is in the final year of his first term as mayor after winning the 2011 election by 24 votes over Republican Gene Ritter. He had topped incumbent mayor Ron Hunt 352-60 in the Democratic primary.
Kesler and Robbins, who serves District 1, were both unopposed in the 2011 general election. Kessler defeated three candidates in the primary.
Portland saw four candidates — two Republlicans and two Democrats — file to run for mayor in the first three days of filing. It also has candidates for clerk-treasurer and all of its city council seats.
Incumbent clerk-treasurer Debbie James is the only candidate who has filed in Redkey. Bryant, Pennville and Salamonia have yet to see any action for open town board and clerk-treasurer seats.
The filing deadline is Feb. 6.