The 2007 election isn’t even over yet and one Lawrence County man has already filed to run in 2008.

Tyler Walters, of Ironton, who is running unopposed for the Upper Township fiscal officer, filed on Friday to run for an open Lawrence County Commissioner seat.

He is running for the open seat that is currently held by Tanner Heaberlin, who was appointed commissioner after long-time commissioner George Patterson died early this year.

Walters is employed at King’s Daughters Medical Center as a senior reimbursement officer. He deals with getting Medicare payments to the hospital. He has a master’s degree in business administration.

He has also served as co-president and on the board of directors the Financial Managers Group, a group of 400 Ohioans who work in the mental health field.

Walters said his experience as both a township fiscal officer and as a financial officer and operating officer for various non-profit organizations will make him a good commissioner.

“I think this county has to have an opportunity to put our best foot forward,” he said. “I have ideas and I have the ability to get some young people in there and to take it to Columbus and to have them know who we are.”

He said among the things he would like to do is get illegal dumpsites throughout the county cleaned up and to bring fiscal stability to the county finances.

“I am running on the idea of fiscal responsibility,” he said.

“There is a lot of stuff going on in the county that we would like to see happen,” he said, mentioning the River Walk project, the Rome-Union sewer project, the final two parts of the Chesapeake Bypass and the Ironton Russell Bridge. “Those have to be completed for the future of Lawrence County.”

He said his being first to file to run shows that he is serious.

“I am going to work very hard for the people of Lawrence County,” he said.

Walters said he is out talking to people to see what they think needs to be done in the county.

“It is time for young leaders with experience to be elected to office,” Walters said. “I have the experience. I’m young and that’s why I’m qualified for that job.”