As the 5 p.m. filing deadline to run for the Legislature approaches, the ranks of those running is swelling; among those filing today are Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, who will seek a fifth House term. Hart will have at least a four-way GOP primary; his GOP challengers, so far, are Ed Morse, Jeri DeLange and Fritz Wiedenhoff; while former Kootenai County Clerk Dan English has filed as a Democrat. You can see the full list here.

Among others filing as the deadline approaches: Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, now has three Republicans vying for his former House seat as he runs for the Senate: Fred Meckel, Ron Mendive and Jeff Tyler. Shoshone County Commissioner Jon Cantamessa will take on Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, running as an independent in District 7.

House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, has two primary challengers in John Blattler and Dan Davis, along with Democratic challenger Karla Miller; former Canyon County Commissioner Todd Lakey will run against Rep. Bob Schaefer, R-Nampa, for a Senate seat in District 12; and Canyon GOP activist Ronalee Linsenman filed to run against Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, in the GOP primary, as did John Gough of Wilder.

Interestingly, Linsenman was the driver of a red Geo Metro that was towed from the lawn of the old Ada County Courthouse today, after she and another driver – who had a Corvette – drove onto the lawn and parked there as a counter-protest against the Occupy Boise encampment, which is on the same lawn. Though the Idaho State Police had both cars towed, neither driver was cited, the Idaho Statesman reports; you can read their full report here.