No primary slated for city election
Anyone with designs on unseating a current Greencastle elected official in 2011 has yet to step forward.
The deadline for a major political party candidate to file for the May 3 primary election came and went last month, with no one set to oppose Greencastle's five council members, mayor or clerk-treasurer.
With no choices for voters to make until early November, no primary elections will be held in Greencastle.
"Because there weren't enough candidates slated for the ballot, we're not going to have a primary, considering the cost involved," County Clerk Marty Watts said.
The cost involved is the best news for taxpayers of the city and county. Watts estimated a primary election for only the eight precincts in Greencastle would cost at least $15,000, with some of the expenses passed on to the city.
In 2007, the city received a bill from the county auditor for $6,340.47 for the general election. The cost of a primary would be roughly the same.
Mayor Sue Murray, Clerk-Treasurer Teresa Glenn and councilors Phyllis Rokicki, Adam Cohen and Jinsie Bingham face no opposition from within the Democratic Party. Republican councilors Mark Hammer and T.J. Smith are also unopposed from within the party.
Furthermore, no one has filed to run from opposing parties.
With no primary slated, absentee voters should not be looking for ballots to arrive in the coming days. Today was to be the deadline for the election board to mail absentee ballots.
Likewise, there will be no absentee voting period from April 4 through May 2, and voter registration will remain open during the time leading up to the primary date.
Watts also emphasized, though, that parties and independents may still nominate candidates to oppose the incumbents. June 30 is the deadline for independents or minor party candidates to file a petition of nomination or for major parties to fill a vacancy, either through appointment or caucus.
Additionally, incorporated towns of fewer than 3,500 people -- including Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Fillmore, Roachdale and Russellville -- have a slightly different election process, involving no primary.
Most candidates for town councils in Putnam County run as independents, and have until June 30 to file. Parties may nominate small town candidates by a town convention before Aug. 1.
From there, the fall election schedule will proceed as usual.
"We are going to forge ahead," Watts said. "We have our town and city elections this fall. People have the right to say who's going to be running their government, and they will have that opportunity this fall."