James Trout, the Webster Groves Democrat who touched off last year’s court battle to successfully reinstate donation limits, has a new target: the 15th District state Senate seat.

Trout filed Wednesday, creating a contest with  Steve Eagleton, the Kirkwood lawyer who filed last week.

Trout’s candidacy could be seen,  by some, as a Democratic insurance policy, in case Eagleton reconsiders. (Or, according to some blog posts, is deemed to not meet the state’s residency or voter-registration rules for candidates. Those close to Eagleton say the accusation is not true, and that he has met the requirements.)

So far, Glendale Alderman Eric Schmitt is the only Republican to file for the post to be vacated when state Sen. Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, leaves next year because of term limits. Gibbons is running for Missouri attorney general.

Meanwhile, the 91st District state House seat that Trout had sought in 2006 now has four contenders (2 Rs, 2 Ds) for the seat to be vacated by veteran Republican Kathlyn Fares, also because of term limits.

Those candidates are:

–Webster Groves Republicans Joan McGivney and Randy Jotte (she’s a former School Board member, and he currently sits on the City Council);

– Democrats Jeanne Kirkton (now on the Webster City Council) and Katherine Bruckner of Shrewsbury.

Kirkton unsuccessfully challenged Gibbons in 2004.

(By the way, a hat tip to Jason Rosenbaum at the Columbia Tribune for first spotting Trout’s filing.)