No primary slated for city election

Saturday, March 19, 2011

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."

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  • come on people learn how to work the government.. we need new leadership in this city!!

    -- Posted by lleonard47 on Sat, Mar 19, 2011, at 9:40 AM
  • I have to agree, new leadership is what is needed to bring this city into the 21st century! Greencastle is standing still while other cities and towns modernize, refit remodel their cities for the better. Greencastle is always behind! as an example, Marty Watts needs to retire!

    -- Posted by BTruth1958 on Sat, Mar 19, 2011, at 11:49 AM
  • How does a write-in candidate get on the ticket?

    -- Posted by Blue6 on Sun, Mar 20, 2011, at 9:39 AM
  • What in God's name are you talking about? Were any of you paying attention in the last couple of weeks when they talked about the grant bringing almost $20 million into this city over the next three years? Do you think that money just materialized out of thin air? NO! It was our city leaders working their tails off to bring that influx of funds into Greencastle.

    And what cities and towns are you talking about being so far ahead of Greencastle? Name me another city of this size that does as much with as little as Greencastle.

    I would love to see a full slate of candidates in the primary and general elections just because it's what democracy is all about, but anyone who says this city isn't in the 21st century is blind.

    -- Posted by Sour Grapes on Mon, Mar 21, 2011, at 2:28 PM
  • Yeah, an influx of money that'll only benefit "the square" which is code for the nearby Depauw area, NOT the overall city of Greencastle.

    -- Posted by stranded67 on Fri, Mar 25, 2011, at 12:44 AM
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