The former mayor of Ironton said he is considering running for Lawrence County Clerk of Courts.

Bob Cleary picked up a petition at the Lawrence County Board of Elections this week. He said he has not decided whether he will file to run for the office, but intends to make the decision in the near future.

"I have had many people call me and ask me to run, so when I went down and filed my post-election (mayoral race) audit I went ahead and picked up the papers," Cleary said. "My phone has rung off the hook from people asking me to run. The support has been tremendous."

Cleary, a Republican, said he is looking at all his considerations and then will make a decision. He ran unsuccessfully for his second full term as Ironton's mayor in November. He lost his bid to former city council member John Elam. Prior to that, Cleary was a member of city council.

He is the eighth person to express interest in the office now held by Dale Burcham. Kenneth Wolfe and John Smith, both Republicans, have formally filed to run. Additionally, Bob Blankenship, Democrat, and Les Boggs, Thomas M. Brammer, Ron Davis, Ted Edwards and Kenton Jordan, all Republicans, have picked up papers. The deadline to file to run for any office in the March primary is Jan. 2.