Warren, Beck make cut for ballot

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Donald Walton congratulates his opponent Kristina Warren Tuesday night after Warren won the Republican nomination for County Commission District 3.

It was déjà vu all over again for Kristina Warren Tuesday night as she awaited the results of the election that would determine whether or not she would be on the ballot in November as the Republican candidate for Putnam County Commission District 3.

"It was a nail-biter four years ago, and it was a nail-biter tonight," said Warren, who bested challenger Donald Walton for the nomination -- just as she did four years ago. "I'm surprised I have any nails left."

Also winning his race was Republican incumbent District 1 Commissioner Gene R. Beck, who defeated challenger Eric Merrell.

Tiffany Hebb of the Greencastle League of Women Voters posts election numbers Tuesday night at the Putnam County Courthouse.

Warren, who will seek her second term as a commissioner, defeated Walton by the narrowest of margins -- only five votes separated them when the final count was taken. A total of 2,925 votes from 29 precincts were cast in the race.

"(Walton) was a tough opponent," Warren said.

In the District 1 race, 2,863 votes were cast. Beck garnered 1,667 of them.

GENE BECK

No Democrats filed for candidacy in either race.

Beck has a long history with the commissioners. He has served in that capacity off and on since the early 1970s.

"The biggest thing I want to see is the 911 center get finished," Beck said. "I want to make sure it's done right, but that it's done as cheaply as it can be done … and not with taxpayer money."

Warren is looking forward to the general election in November.

"I'm going to use this primary as a basis for how I'm going to go into the general election," she said. "I can see now where I need to improve, and I can hit it even harder."

Warren's reasons for wanting to remain on the commission are deeply personal.

"There's just so much more to do in our county, and I want to be a part of it," she said. "We have two kids we're raising here, and I want make sure they're raised in a good community."

Beck said the support he received from his constituents was humbling.

"I really appreciate what everyone has done," he said. "I hope I can have another four years on the commission so I can keep working."

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  • Yeah!, another 4 years of terrible roads, yet the one to her house is brand new blacktop....hmmmmmm?

    -- Posted by hoosierkitnkat on Wed, May 7, 2008, at 6:30 AM
  • ho hum... more do-nothing republicans flexing their "muscles" as they reel in their welfare payments from the farm subsidies

    ugh

    -- Posted by CrimeDawg on Wed, May 7, 2008, at 6:41 AM
  • Yes, only Republicans receive any form gov assistance ... yep.

    -- Posted by GRNT on Wed, May 7, 2008, at 6:45 AM
  • Hey, don't whine, the people have spoken.

    -- Posted by keith on Wed, May 7, 2008, at 9:27 AM
  • I find it highly ironic that one of Warren's campaign ads said that the current road program doesn't work! And that is why we should reelect you? Because your road program doesn't work? Too bad more folks didn't get out and make their voice heard. Only a few more votes would have got her out of office.

    -- Posted by ursula on Wed, May 7, 2008, at 10:45 AM
  • Do Putnam County folks just like to whine, or have no clue about government. This was the Primary election. People have another chance to vote in November to see who will be elected to serve the County

    -- Posted by hoosierpete on Wed, May 7, 2008, at 12:10 PM
  • Shouldn't she finally resign from the Auditor's Office? I know she would not want to give the appearance of a conflict of interest.

    -- Posted by justasking on Wed, May 7, 2008, at 3:55 PM
  • Now get out here and fix the roads.Show us you can do your jobs

    -- Posted by cmlandscape on Thu, May 8, 2008, at 5:23 PM
  • The best person won this race. Those of you not wishing to see Warren as the Republican nomination for this position, I implore you to post what Walton ever did for Putnam county that wasn't self serving. If you do not care for Warren then don't vote for her in November. If you think things will change with a democrat in this position, I have some beach front property in Arizona I'll sell you. Politics is a dirty business and the best we can hope for is to elect the lesser of the evils.

    -- Posted by gingb2 on Thu, May 8, 2008, at 9:07 PM
  • More glad to see Walton defeated than Warren re-elected. Maybe he will get the hint that most people are tired of the kind of politics he has employed in the past. When Warren defeated him last time, he tried to get a well-known Democrat in the Cloverdale area to race her in the General Election! How is that for party loyalty?

    -- Posted by Sour Grapes on Fri, May 9, 2008, at 1:31 PM
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