The field of candidates for two available Lawrence County Commission seats has officially gotten a bit larger.

Eastern end businessman and Fairland school board member Bob Mayo filed the necessary paperwork this week to run for Lawrence County Commission. Mayo is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat now held by Democrat Tanner Heaberlin, who was appointed to replace the late George Patterson.

Mayo, a Republican, said if he is elected, his first priority as a commissioner would be to establish a good working relationship with the other commissioners.

He said he works well with incumbent Republican Jason Stephens, who is seeking re-election this year, and Democrat Doug Malone, though he ran against Malone for commissioner last year.

Mayo said he would also work to keep county expenditures in line with county finances. He said he wants to push state lawmakers to correct the school funding inequity, which may free up local dollars for local, non-educational use.

“With a new funding system in place, there could be less reliance on local property taxes to fund schools,” he explained.

Mayo said he would like to work to continue the economic momentum that is taking place in the eastern end and supports the expansion of the Union-Rome Sewer District and the proposed RiverWalk Development.

“We have some good things going on and I want to work to see this continue,” Mayo said.

Mayo will face fellow Republican Tyler Walters for the GOP nomination. But they may have competition from fellow Republicans Les Boggs, Perry Brock, Donald Adkins and Bob Taylor, who have picked petitions to run for the commission seat but have not yet filed.

The winner will face Heaberlin or fellow Democrat John Hitchcock both of whom have picked up petitions but have not yet filed. In addition, one independent candidate, Lester Brumfield, has picked up a petition to run.

Stephens is so far unopposed in the primary, but two Democrats have picked up petitions to run against him, Paul Carmon and former Hanging Rock Mayor Wayne Pennington.