Mike Kiernan was first. He got his declaration of candidacy papers in right after the Town Clerk's office opened Monday morning – which was as early as possible. By state law, candidates have from start of business Monday to 4 p.m. Wednesday this week to declare.

Kiernan, a Republican, is running for a third term on the Town Council.

Filing his candidacy papers just after Kiernan Monday morning was Brad Bishop, who's making his first run for elected office, for Town Council.

Later on Monday, two Republican candidates for Bob Watson's House District 30 seat submitted their papers – Bob Bolton, who announced his intention earlier this month, and Antonio Giarrusso, who had not made his intentions public before Monday. If both follow through getting the requisite signatures, that means there will be a Republican primary on Sept. 11.

After submitting candidacy papers, candidates then have from July 3 to July 13 to get 50 signatures from local registered voters.

Information on all aspects of running for office in Rhode Island presented in a booklet put out by the R.I. Secretary of State is attached, right.