Brian Cox to seek mayor’s seat

With the deadline to file as a candidate in the 2023 municipal primary election approaches on Friday, the Democrat party has a candidate for mayor.

Former Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Director Brian Cox has filed to seek the Democratic nomination for mayor.

While Cox currently has no opponent in the primary, current city Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar is the lone candidate for the Republican mayoral nomination.

One other new candidate for a city position had newly filed as of Monday afternoon, with Vincent Aguirre filing to seek the Democrat nomination for Greencastle’s Fourth Ward position on the City Council.

The only other new candidate to file as of Monday afternoon is the first to file for any of the elections outside the City of Greencastle. Republican Larry Fidler seeks to reprise his role as the First Ward councilman in Cloverdale.

The Republican primary slate in the city currently includes Dunbar for mayor, Mikayla Johnson for clerk-treasurer, Mark Hammer and Darrel Thomas for at-large seats and Stacie Langdon for Second Ward councilor.

On the Democrat side, it is Cox for mayor, Third Ward Councilor Veronica Pejril seeking a second term and Aguirre seeking the Fourth Ward nod.

Neither party has a full slate in the city, nor does either have any contested primary races at this time.

There also remains no candidate in the city’s First Ward from either party, as well as only two Republicans for three at-large council spots.

However, independent Derek Jorgensen is also seeking an at-large seat and will not appear on the ballot until the Nov. 7 general election.

Those wishing to seek the Republican or Democrat nomination for a municipal office may pick up necessary paperwork at the Putnam County Voter Registration Office on the second floor of the Putnam County Courthouse or under the Secretary of State’s page at www.in.gov.

All paperwork must be filed with the Voter Registration Office by noon on Friday, Feb. 3.

Even after the May 2 primary, though, both the Democrat and Republican parties have until July 3 to nominate candidates for any unfilled positions.

Independent candidates have until the same deadline.

The Voter Registration Office is open during regular hours of the Putnam County Courthouse, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.