Though the filing deadline for next year’s mid-term election candidates isn’t until March, Summit County Democrats all but kicked off the upcoming election season Tuesday at County Commissioner Sally Elliott’s Park City home.

Before attending the event, County Commissioner Bob Richer rebuffed rumors that he would seek a second term in office. Summit County Democratic Party Chair Rob Weyher announced Tuesday morning that Richer would run again. “That’s [Weyher’s] conclusion,” Richer said about a radio interview Weyher did this week. “I did hear that and I went, ‘Oh, well, that’s very interesting.'”

Richer said he would likely announce in January whether he would seek another term. Democratic Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme also is undecided. “It’s a long enough election season and I felt like the city election should take place,” Richer said, adding that he did not tell Weyher he was running. Summit County Democratic Party Secretary Laura Bonham says party brass are assuming all incumbent Democrats in county offices will run in 2006.

“It’s heating up,” she said during a telephone interview Thursday. “It’s not too early to be recruiting.”

Republicans hold only two of the county’s 10 elected positions. Democrats are recruiting challengers for Summit County Attorney David Brickey, and Republican Sheriff Dave Edmunds and Treasurer Glen Thompson, also a member of the GOP.

A former Republican, Brickey became an unaffiliated voter prior to the Summit County Commission appointing him this year to serve the remainder of a term that belonged to Democrat Robert Adkins, who resigned to become a Third District Court Judge.

“If the Democrats called me, I would certainly listen to them,” said an undecided Brickey about the possibility of running as a Democrat. “I hope [Elliott] calls me.”

Edmunds plans to seek a second term and Democrat Scott Mark, a Kamas police officer, announced this week that he would challenge the sheriff for the office.

Thompson plans to seek another term.

According to Bonham, the Democratic National Committee organized more than 1,000 parties at houses throughout the country Nov. 15.

“We had a great meal,” Bonham said, about the spaghetti, salads and desserts Elliott served to her roughly 25 guests.

Elliott’s commission term doesn’t expire until 2008.