POMEROY — Meigs County residents, Micah Martindale (R) of Reedsville, who filed her petition to run in the primary for the 94th Ohio House District seat, and Warren Taylor (D) of Snowville, who announced his plan to file as an independent for a U.S. Senate seat, are both newcomers to the political scene.

Martindale, along with Charles Richter of Little Hocking, both Republicans, filed their petitions for the 92nd House seat with the Athens County Board of Elections The winner in the primary will face off against Debbie Phillips (D), currently the 92nd House District representative. Phillips, whose term ends December 2012, earlier indicated that she will seek a third term in the Ohio House. Martindale could not be reached for comment. Richter had announced his candidacy giving qualifications and listing concerns. earlier this month.

The 92nd District will become the 94th District under the new legislative maps passed at the Statehouse. The 94th District includes all of Meigs and portions of Athens, Washington and Vinton Counties.

Taylor, who is co-owner of the Snowville Creamery, announced his intention to run as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat just a few days before the filing deadline but in that short period of time was unable to collect the required number of signatures on his petition before the deadline. So Wednesday he announced that he will run as an Independent in the general election. The deadline for filing as an Independent is March 5. Independents go directly into the general election in November.

In an Associated Press story it was reported that Taylor has taken particular issue with the utilization of a process known as fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, to extract oil and natural gas from shale deposits and that’s one of his reasons for running. Opponents to the process have stated that it can lead to contamination of water and soil.

Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel and five other GOP candidates have filed to run in the March 6 primary. They are David Dodt of Defiance, Donna Glisman of Graytown, Eric LaMont Gregory of Beavercreek, and Michael Pryce of Hudson, and Russell Bliss, Jr. Joseph DeMare of Bowling Green has filed to run as a Green Party candidate. The winner in the six-way contest would face incumbent U. S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, in November in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.