Today, most elected officials at the county level are expected to join the parade of Utahns filing into county clerks' offices to register as candidates for the November election.

And because some incumbents have announced plans to retire, a few high-profile seats are, so far, wide open.

Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom has decided not to run, and so have Davis County Commissioner Carol Page, Davis County Assessor Carol Buckley and Salt Lake County Surveyor Von Butler.

Davis County Attorney Mel Wilson may take all 10 days of the filing period to decide whether to run. He said he's considering his options and has encouraged one of his deputies, Troy Rawlings, to file as a candidate.

"If I decide not to run, he's going to get my full support," said Wilson, who is in his 20th year as county attorney.

Sixteen years is enough for Yocom. Page has spent 13 years in office, Buckley has spent seven and Butler 10.

Yocom, a Democrat, has had enough of the politics, enough of the back-biting, and is ready to step back and play some golf.

"I'll take my four terms and 16 years in office — they have been very productive for the people of this county," Yocom said. "I'm done."

Yocom has been a political target of sorts during the last few years of his tenure. Local Republicans cried foul in late 2004 when Yocom filed charges against former Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman for misuse of public funds. They called it a political persecution against the Republican mayor, who was acquitted on all charges.

Yocom said he felt jilted after the Republican-dominated Legislature this year passed a so-called "poke 'em, Yocom" bill, allowing the County Council to hire its own private attorney instead of relying on Yocom's advice.

The race for Yocom's successor is already shaping up. Two Republicans — Kent Morgan, a prosecutor in the county district attorney's office for 22 years; and Lohra Miller, whose law firm provides prosecutorial services to a number of Salt Lake County communities — already have announced their intentions to run. Yocom hand-picked the third candidate: Democrat Sim Gill, Salt Lake City's chief prosecutor.

Page, who is Davis County's first woman commissioner, was appointed to the council in 1993, following the death of Gerald Purdy. She recently expressed a desire to retire and spend time with her family.

Buckley said she plans to retire after working 16 years for Davis County, the last seven as assessor.

Buckley, who said she has enjoyed working for the county, is getting married May 6 and looks forward to having family time.