Joe Chilelli, a Herkimer County Democrat, has filed a campaign committee to take on Assemblyman Marc Butler, R-Newport.

Petitioning to get on the ballot started on Tuesday, and Mr. Chilelli's name was discussed as a near-certainty to take on Mr. Butler.

The district that the men will vie for on Nov. 6 includes the St. Lawrence County towns of Norfolk, Stockholm, Madrid, Parishville, Pierrepont, Clare, Colton, Clifton and Fine, plus Hamilton and Fulton and parts of Oneida and Herkimer counties.

The state legislative districts that touch the tri-county area could bring some boring races in 2012. Assemblymembers Addie Russell, Will Barclay, Ken Blankenbush, and state Sens. Joe Griffo and Elizabeth O.C. Little, might not have challengers at all. Not unusual for veterans like Mr. Griffo, Mrs. Little or Mr. Barclay, but the fact that Mrs. Russell (a Democrat in a Republican-majority district) and Mr. Blankenbush (a freshman) will be a free pass is unusual.

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