Two announce for Secretary of State job

The election is well over a year away, but Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz is running to replace Governor Douglas, and that means her job is up for grabs. So far, one candidate from each party has announced the will run to relace Markowitz, Democrat Charles Merriman and Republican Chris Roy. Merriman has raised just over $6,500 so far, about half that amount is his own money. Roy has about $2,200 in his campaign war chest, including about $1,500 from his own funds. Both candidates are attorneys. The secretary of state's office is a nonpartisan job, and both Roy and Merriman say they're aligned with political parties out of practicality.