Five Republicans are looking at or already actively running for the state Senate seat being vacated next year by Arthur Ravenel, R-Mount Pleasant.

Democrats intend to contest the seat as well, said Horry County party Chairman Greg McCollum.

Ravenel, 76, said earlier this year he probably would not seek another term and made it official last week.

He said he is tired of driving the district, which is one of the longest in the state, and wants to spend more time with his family and on his farm.

The reconfigured district also gives Horry County, not Charleston County, the bulk of the voters, with 49 percent. Charleston County has 17 percent of the voters, Georgetown 34 percent.

That makes it more likely that an Horry County resident could carry the day, especially in a Republican primary, said Georgetown County Council member Ron Charlton.

Charlton is considering a run for the seat but said it's too early to decide.

It's not too early for Ray Cleary.

Cleary, a dentist, lives in Murrells Inlet in Georgetown County but has practiced in Surfside Beach since 1975.

He already has sent out fliers, hired campaign consultants and is stumping for the job.

Cleary said he wants to serve the community he thinks has been good to him and to represent people who aren't always heard.

"Sometimes people that go up there do not represent people the way they should," Cleary said.

He thinks he can draw votes from Georgetown County, because that is where he lives and he understands those issues, as well as from Horry County, because that is where he has conducted business for years.

Another Georgetown County resident running is former Circuit Judge David Maring.

Maring announced his intentions recently to a Republican club in Pleasant Hill, but he was out of town at a wedding and could not be reached for this report.

Horry County Councilman Terry Cooper has formed an exploratory committee and is still studying a run, he said.

He said he will announce his decision in November.

"I've been overwhelmed with the community and financial support," Cooper said.

Clark Parker, an accountant and member of the board at Coastal Carolina University, is the fifth Republican candidate for the office.

He also was unavailable for comment.

State Rep. Vida Miller, D-Pawleys Island, said she was approached about running but probably will not.

"I think it would be good to have a Democrat in the race, but I don't know who it will be," she said.

McCollum said Horry Democrats don't have a definite candidate either but are recruiting.