Two candidates for Mayor; some city seats open

More Greencastle residents have filed to run for city offices in the 2007 primary election. But with only one person running under each party, the election office states, as of now, there will be no primary election in May.

The city positions that are up for re-election this year are all five seats of the city council, the mayor and the clerk-treasurer.

Both Max Steven Butts (R) and Sue Murray (D) have filed for the mayor's position. Butts is the owner and operator of Steve's Wrecker Service on North Jackson Street, while Murray is the social services director at Putnam County Hospital.

One of these candidates will be taking the place of current mayor Nancy Michael who had announced eariler that she would not be seeking another term.

Running for city council member at-large are current council member John Lanie (D) and current Greencastle Township Advisory Board member Karen (Hill) Ambler (R). Running for the other council positions are Jeremy Carver (R) for First Ward, Mark Hammer (R) for Second Ward, Russell Evans (D) and Terry Smith (R ) for Fourth Ward and Eric Birt (R) for Third Ward.

The current city council members are Lanie, at-large; Tom Roach, First Ward; Hammer, Second Ward; Bob Sedlack, Third Ward; and Evans, Fourth Ward.

Incumbent Greencastle Clerk-Treasurer Teresa Glenn (D) has also filed for another term.

Both the Democratic and the Republican parties may have caucus to fill the vacant positions for the November ballot. The caucus must be conducted by noon on Saturday, June 30.

The vacant positions still available are for those running under the Democratic ticket for First, Second and Third Wards, and for those running under the Republican ticket for city clerk-treasurer.

According to the election office, those chosen by their party's caucus does not have to fill with Putnam County Clerk's office until noon on Tuesday, July 3.