As of Thursday, there had been five candidates file for the primary election more than six months away, including two incumbents and one candidate for the legislature.

Floyd County Judge-Executive R.D. “Doc” Marshall filed to run again for that office Wednesday, while Floyd Sheriff John K Blackburn did the same Wednesday.

There has been one constable filing and one magistrate filing at this early point, according to records at the Floyd County Clerk’s office.

Ben Ferguson, of Prestonsburg, filed Wednesday to run for District 1 constable for that district’s only filing at this time, while Eastern resident Marie Martin Holbrook, has filed to run for District 2 magistrate.

The filing that has gathered the most attention at this point, however, will only affect a small portion of Floyd County.

Paintsville coaching legend Bill Mike Runyon filed Wednesday to run for state representative in the 97th District, a post long held by current state Rep. Hubert Collins.

In a press release, Runyon, who coached basketball at Paintsville High School for 26 years, winning one state championship, and now sits on the city council, said filing early wasn’t much different than getting the opening tip in a basketball game and scoring first.

“Even though there are four quarters and 32 minutes of basketball to be played, getting the tip-off and scoring on those first few attempts is very important,” said Runyon. “A team has to get off to a good start or it will play from behind. I wanted to get off to a good start today, and I am pleased.”

Already Runyon says he has garnered a lot of support with more than 600 Facebook supporters and a large number of encouraging phone calls.

Runyon, who considers himself founded in “strong conservative principles,” has also touched on some of the issues he will highlight during his campaign, including support of the coal industry, maintaining roads and schools.

“Government should work for the people not against them,” Runyon said, “and I have fresh ideas on how to make that happen.”