Greencastle primary ballot set as filing period expires

With no last-minute surprises surfacing Friday morning, the ballot for the 2015 City of Greencastle primary election is now set.

The latest addition to the ballot came Wednesday when Tanis Monday, 33, of 18 Highland St., filed as a Democrat candidate for the Fourth Ward seat on the City Council.

That sets up a Democrat primary battle between Monday and Bennet "Benny" Whitlock, 66, of 907 S. Locust St., with the winner getting to go head to head against incumbent Republican Tyler Wade, 25, of 909 Zinc Mill Terrace Drive, in the Nov. 3 general election.

The only other last-minute primary maneuver came from Harry Maginity, 70, of 648 E. Seminary St., who shifted his filing as a Republican candidate from the Third Ward City Council seat to become the third GOP at-large candidate on the ballot.

In fact, the field for the city's three at-large positions has undergone some shuffling throughout the filing period.

First it was with Democrat Gary Lemon, 66, who lives in the Second Ward at 805 Highwood Ave., inadvertently being listed originally as seeking the Second Ward seat instead of an at-large berth. Then Patrick Aikman, 102 W. Poplar St., filed to run as a Republican at-large candidate but has since withdrawn his name. And now the Maginity shuffle.

The at-large spot, however, is the only place where a primary vacancy exists on the ballot. While the Republicans have three candidates -- Maginity, Mark Hammer, 57, of 720 Ravenwood Drive, and Clyde Wallace "Wally" Hinkle, 72, of 926 N. Madison St. -- the Democrats have just two at-large slots filled for the primary, hopefuls Lemon and Dave Murray, 66, of 514 E. Seminary St.

Meanwhile, two Third Ward City Council candidates finally emerged this past week with Republican Harold Barger, 65, of 310 Fifth St., now poised to challenge Democrat Steve Fields, 60, of 11 Wood St., in the November general election for the Council seat currently held by Democrat Jinsie Bingham.

With the Feb. 6 primary deadline expiring at noon Friday, the city ballot now shapes up as follows:

Mayor -- Republicans Haywood Ware, 65, of 208 S. Arlington St., and Jim Wright, 72, of 902 S. Illinois St.; Democrat William Dory, 56, of 320 Highfall Ave.

Clerk-Treasurer -- Republican incumbent Lynda Dunbar, 50, of 713 E. Walnut St.; Democrat Eric Wolfe, 33, of 1001 Crescent Drive.

Council at-large (three seats available) -- Republicans Mark Hammer, Clyde Wallace "Wally" Hinkle and Harry Maginity; Democrats Gary D. Lemon and David Murray.

First Ward -- Republican Danny Mesecher, 57, of 120 N. Locust St.; Democrat incumbent Adam Cohen, 53, of 11 Park St.

Second Ward -- Republican Stacie Langdon, 51, of 407 Fawnview Lane; Democrat Brian Cox, 38, of 707 Highridge Ave.

Third Ward -- Republican Harold Barger; Democrat Steve Fields.

Fourth Ward -- Republican incumbent Tyler Wade; Democrats Tanis Monday and Bennet ("Benny") Whitlock.

Meanwhile, anyone contemplating an independent bid for any of the city positions will need to go through a petition process with a June 30 deadline to complete and file necessary documents to get on the November ballot.