Candidates have until Friday to file for primary

Sunday, January 31, 2016

As the filing period for candidates in the May 3 primary enters its final week, Putnam County Republicans have a full slate of local candidates.

Democrats, on the other hand, have nary a local candidate.

Candidates for county-level offices (except for circuit court judge) have until noon on Friday, Feb. 5 to file their candidates packets with the Putnam County Voter Registration Office.

Packets are available at the Voter Registration Office on the second floor of the courthouse.

Also filed at the county office are candidates for the Republican and Democrat state convention delegates and Republican precinct committeemen.

The two latest local candidates are at-large county council incumbents Gene Beck and Phil Gick each filing to run for another term. They join fellow incumbent Larry Parker and newcomer Jim Wright on the GOP ballot.

The only other contested county race is for District 3 commissioner, which pits incumbent Don Walton against Cloverdale Town Marshal Mike Clark.

Republican candidates for county-wide office who remain unopposed include District 1 Commissioner David Berry, Auditor Lorie Hallett and Coroner David Brown, all seeking a second term, as well as first-timer Kathy Minnick, a deputy in the Putnam County Treasurer's office who is looking to succeed current boss Sharon Owens.

Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley is seeking a third term on the bench. County judge candidates file at the state level.

Among state-level candidates of local interest, District 24 State Sen. Pete Miller is opposed on the Republican ballot by John Crane. District 37 State Sen. Rodric Bray is as-yet unopposed.

The only local state legislator who has not yet filed is District 44 State Representative Jim Baird.

Democrat Kimberly Fidler has, however, filed for the District 44 seat on the Democrat side. No Democrats have filed for either of the local senate districts.

The the race for U.S. House District 4, Democrat John Dale added his name to the race to opposed Republican incumbent Todd Rokita. Fellow Democrat Ryan Farrar is also on the ballot.

Two new Republicans entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by the retiring Dan Coats. Eric Holcomb and Marlin Stutzman join Todd Young in what is so far a three-way race for the Republican nomination.

No Democrat has filed for the senate seat.

Just like at the county level, state candidates have until noon on Friday to file.

The Voter Registration Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The office may be reached at 655-1538.

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