(UPDATED, 2:26 p.m., with news on the House vacancy in legislative District 18.)

State Rep. Holli Woodings of Boise took a step closer to joining the secretary of state’s race Monday.

The Boise Democrat filed paperwork naming a campaign treasurer. This has not formally announced a campaign, but the campaign paperwork is a precursor to raising money for a run for office.

Woodings is serving her first term in the Legislature.

Four Republicans who have already jumped into the race: state Rep. Lawerence Denney of Midvale, former legislator Evan Frasure of Pocatello, deputy Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane, and former state Sen. Mitch Toryanski.

Incumbent Secretary of State Ben Ysursa is retiring after 12 years in office.

The secretary of state is Idaho’s chief elections officer. The secretary of state also holds one of five spots on the Idaho Land Board, which determines state endowment policies affecting public schools and other beneficiaries.

In other political news: legislative District 18 Democrats have submitted three nominees to succeed Janie Ward-Engelking in the House. In December, Ward-Engelking was appointed to replace state Sen. Branden Durst.

The Democrats ranked their three choices as follows:

1. Ilana Rubel, an attorney who focuses her practice on litigation involving technology and e-commerce companies, with a particular emphasis on trademark, copyright, trade secret and licensing disputes. She has four school-age children.

2. Elizabeth (Beth) Oppenheimer, executive director of Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children.

3. Brooke Green, District 3 mobility manager for the Community Transportation Association of Idaho.

Otter will select one nominee, and he is not obligated to select a party’s top choice. The nominee could also wind up replacing Ward-Engelking on the House Education Committee.

“I got the impression (Otter) wants to get it done quickly — he seemed to anxious to get on with it,” District 18 Chairman John Goettsche said.