Election filing period opens Wednesday

With the ink barely dry on the oaths of office of 2015 municipal election winners, the Putnam County Voter Registration Office is already gearing up for the 2016 Primary Election.

Candidate packets are already available, Voter Registration Clerk Stacia Hathaway announced recently, and can be turned in beginning this week.

The completed candidate packets are due between Wednesday, Jan. 6 and noon on Friday, Feb. 5. The completed forms must be turned in by the deadline in order for a candidate to appear on the Tuesday, May 3 Primary Election ballot.

The Voter Registration Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Although the office normally closes for lunch from 11 a.m.-noon, Clerk Heather Gilbert is usually available to distribute candidate packets.

Of course, voters may also register to vote at the Voter Registration Office. In order to vote in the primary election, registration must take place by Monday, April 4.

The Putnam County Voter Registration Office may be reached at 655-1538.

County-level candidates who will appear on the 2016 ballot include District 1 commissioner, District 3 commissioner, all three at-large councilors, auditor, treasurer and coroner.

Putnam Circuit Court judge is also up for election, although candidates file at the state level.

Also needing to file at the county level are Democrat and Republican state convention delegates and Republican precinct committeemen.

The incumbents to the county positions are all Republicans and include District 1 Commissioner David Berry; District 3 Commissioner Don Walton; at-large councilmen Larry Parker, Phil Gick and Gene Beck; Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley; Auditor Lorie Hallett; Treasurer Sharon Owens; and Coroner Dave Brown.

Beyond the county level, there should be plenty of intrigue surrounding the 2016 election, beginning with candidates from both sides of the aisle looking to replace President Barack Obama.

In Indiana, the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Dan Coats will be up for grabs, with the veteran senator saying he will not seek re-election. The U.S. House District 4 seat currently occupied by Todd Rokita (R) is also on the ballot.

Statewide executive positions up for grabs include governor, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction.

All Indiana General Assembly seats will be up for their biennial election, with the local races including Senate Districts 24 (Pete Miller) and 37 (Rodric Bray) and House District 44 (Jim Baird).