UPDATE: Galloway out of commissioner race

UPDATE: Wayne Galloway will not appear on the ballot as a candidate for District 3 county commissioner.

Putnam County Clerk Heather Gilbert contacted the Banner Graphic Friday afternoon, reporting that the petition Galloway turned in was seven signatures short of the required number.

After review by Gilbert and Voter Registration Clerk Stacia Hathaway, Galloway was found to have only 121 certified signatures, seven short of the 128 required for an independent wanting to appear on the ballot.

Following a closer-than-expected win in the Republican primary, District 3 Commissioner Don Walton is suddenly facing a crowded field in the fall.

Prior to the noon filing deadline on Thursday, Wayne Galloway submitted his paperwork, including the required number of signatures, to appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot as an independent.

Galloway currently serves as the town manager in Cloverdale.

In addition to Republican incumbent Walton, Democrat Nancy Wells is also on the ballot for District 3 county commissioner.

The only other contested race at the county level pits incumbent Coroner Dave Brown (R) against challenger Wally Steele (D).

Republicans unopposed in their reelection bids include Auditor Lorie Hallett, Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley, District 1 Commissioner David Berry and at-large county councilmen Gene Beck, Phil Gick and Larry Parker.

Current Deputy Treasurer Kathy Minnick (R) is also unopposed in her bid to replace retiring Treasurer Sharon Owens.

School board positions in the Cloverdale, North Putnam and Cloverdale districts will also be on the November ballot. Candidate filings in those non-partisan races are open from July 27 through noon on Aug. 26.

In another race of local interest, GOP incumbent District 44 State Rep. Jim Baird faces a challenge from Democrat Kim Fidler.

Although records from the state were not exactly clear as of Thursday evening, it appears that there is no Democrat running for either State Senate seat that represents Putnam County.

In District 24, John Crane knocked off incumbent Pete Miller in the GOP primary. His path to the seat now appears unimpeded with no Democrat on the ballot.

Incumbent District 37 Sen. Rod Bray likewise has no Democrat resistance in his bid for another two-year term.

There are three races for statewide executive positions.

GOP Gov. Mike Pence faces Democrat John Gregg again after narrowly defeating the former Indiana Speaker of the House in 2012.

With Attorney General Greg Zoeller (R) not seeking a third term, two newcomers -- Democrat Lorenzo Arredondo and Republican Curtis Hill -- now seek the office.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz (D) seeks a second term, but faces a challenge from Republican Jennifer McCormick.

Also at the statewide level, the retirement of U.S. Sen. Dan Coats (R) has Republican Congressman Todd Young and Democratic former Congressman Baron Hill seeking the open seat.

In U.S. House District 4, Congressman Todd Rokita (R) seeks a fourth term, but will be challenged by Democrat John Dale, just as he was in 2014.