Odds and ends from the world of politics in Trumbull and Mahoning counties:
Two weeks ago, this space was used to note that another election is right around the corner - Wednesday is the filing deadline for the March 6 primary - and that so far, there had been no surprises among the names that had filed paperwork to be on the ballot or at least announced their intention to seek office.
Since, a number of other Democrat incumbents in county government have joined the fray and filed: for commissioner, Paul Heltzel; engineer, Randy Smith; recorder, Diana Marchese; treasurer, Sam Lamancusa; and common pleas court judge, Andrew Logan.
Something new is Eastern District Court Judge Ronald J. Rice filing petitions for common pleas court judge. Rice is running for the bench occupied by Judge John Stuard, who is retiring when his term expires next year.
And there should be a contested Republican and Democrat primaries.
Bloomfield trustee Roger Peterson and former Southington school board member Albert J. Haberstroh Jr. filed for state representative in the 64th district. Haberstroh ran unopposed in 2010, but lost to Democrat incumbent Tom Letson.
Also, filing on the GOP ticket are Patricia Paridon of Niles in the 63rd district and common pleas family court Judge Richard L. James for the same seat.
Democrat Sheila Calko is kicking off her campaign for the 64th district seat next week to challenge Letson. She said she expects to file sometime before Wednesday.
The Trumbull County Board of Elections will meet Dec. 15 to certify the names for the ballot.
Congratulations to Eric Murphy. The Warren native had been beating the Internet for money for weeks, trying to scrape together $25,000 on Kickstarter.com to wrap up his documentary on former U.S. congressman turned convict James A. Traficant Jr.
Pledged toward the effort as of Wednesday's deadline was $25,581.
The 90-minute film, ''Traficant: The Congressman of Crimetown,'' details the story of Traficant and the story of the Mahoning Valley's history.
Traficant is not part of the project (Murphy, 35, says Traficant has been approached), but there are plenty other high profile people, including Ed O'Neill, Youngstown native and star of the television show "Modern Family;'' U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Niles, who succeeded Traficant in Congress and once worked as an intern for Traficant; former Youngstown Mayor Pat Ungaro; and Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains.
Christmas cheer ... Republican style.
Come see how the Mahoning County GOP members and party chairman Mark Munroe get down for Christmas Thursday at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center in Boardman. The event will have a social time at 6:15 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m.
Tickets cost $35 per person and reservations are being requested by Monday.