Party filing opens for local, state and federal offices today, including U.S. House District 2, all the seats in the state House of Representatives, seven spots on the Beaufort County Council and the offices of the sheriff, solicitor, treasurer and auditor.

Party filing will run until noon March 30. Primary races are June 13 with the general election Nov. 7. Candidates wishing to file for party races must file with the county party chairperson.

Congressman Joe Wilson, R-S.C., will seek re-election, said spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore. Wilson's congressional district covers several rural counties from Beaufort to Lexington.

State Rep. Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort, said Monday that she plans to seek re-election to represent most of downtown Beaufort, Port Royal and the Sea Islands.

Rep. Thayer Rivers, a Ridgeland Democrat who represents all of Jasper County and a small portion of Seabrook, said he'll also be running for re-election. Rep. Kenneth Hodges, D-Bennetts Point who was elected to a partial term in August, could not be reached for comment.

Rep. Richard Chalk, R-Hilton Head Island, and Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, also will seek re-election, according to Doug Robertson, the county's Republican Party chairman.

State law requires House elections every two years. Senate members elected every four years will not be on the ballot until 2008.

The Beaufort County Council will see at least three new faces. Republican council members Dick Stewart of Beaufort and Frank Brafman of Hilton Head Island have announced they will not be running. School board member Rick Caporale, also a Republican, is running for Brafman's Hilton Head seat on the council.

Republican Councilman Weston Newton is moving from his Hilton Head district to Bluffton and has said he'll seek election in that district. Republican Councilman Peter Lamb, that region's representative, said Wednesday that he had not decided if he would run.

Republican council members Mark Generales of Lady's Island and Margaret Griffin of Sun City Hilton Head have announced that they'll be seeking re-election. They are expected to face primary challenges from Paul Sommerville and Jerry Stewart, respectively. Each announced his intent to run last month.

Councilwoman Starletta Hairston has not announced whether she will run again for her Hilton Head seat.

County Treasurer Joy Logan, Auditor Sharon Burris and Sheriff P.J. Tanner, all Republicans, have said they plan to run for re-election. Recently appointed Republican Solicitor Duffie Stone has said he'll run for the position in November, Robertson said. Stone serves Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Colleton and Allendale.

County Democratic Party Chair Beverly Smith-Dore said the open seats on the County Council may signal an opportunity for the Democrats.

"We're encouraged this could be a tremendous opportunity," she said, though noting she has no firm commitments from candidates yet. "We'll wait and see."

Robertson said he was pleased with the candidates that have announced their intentions, noting many have served in public office or volunteered their time on committees.

"It seems to be a lot of great people running with former involvement in governance," he said.

Filing for seven seats up for election on the Beaufort County Board of Education and two on the Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation District will be done by petition and due Aug. 15.

In Jasper, seats held by County Council member Thomas McClary and Chairman George Hood are up for election, as well as the county's auditor, treasurer, probate judge, coroner and sheriff. Five school district seats are also up for election as well as two at-large seats on the Hardeeville City Council held by Bea Jones and Mayor Pro Tem Brooks Willis.