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Contested sheriff's race highlights early candidate filings
While the weather outside remains frigid, the filing season for the 2014 primary election is heating up.
The filing period for the May 6 primary began last Wednesday and will continue through noon Friday, Feb. 7.
We at the Banner Graphic want our readers to be able to make informed decisions on their choices for who will lead Putnam County government for the next four years or more. But to do so, we will need the help of both the local candidates and their political parties.
Each candidate for county offices in the 2014 primary -- commissioner, county council, superior court judge, prosecutor, sheriff, clerk, recorder and assessor and surveyor -- is eligible to submit a story about himself or herself for publication on the front page of the Banner Graphic between now and the primary.
The deadline for submitting such articles will be Friday, Feb. 21.
We ask that candidates limit the length of their submission to 600 words. As always, we reserve the right to edit all stories for style, clarity and accuracy.
Candidate stories can be emailed (the preferred method) to the Banner Graphic at news@bannergraphic.com or mailed to Banner Graphic, P.O. Box 509, Greencastle, IN 46135. They can also be hand-delivered to the office at 100 N. Jackson St. or faxed to the Banner Graphic at 653-2063.
A color headshot photograph should be provided with your written submission.
The Banner Graphic plans to publish all articles submitted by candidates by the April 1edition of the newspaper. For candidates in the primary election, no separate candidate stories will be run after that date.
It should also be noted that no candidate introduction stories will be run in a Monday edition.
The 2014 primary election filing period opened on Wednesday, Jan. 8 with many roads still snow-covered around Putnam County, making for a less-than-ideal day to file.
However, the candidate filings are now rolling in, with a contested race for Putnam County sheriff the main point of interest as the May 6 ballots begin to take shape.
Nearly every filing thus far has been for the Republican primary ballot.
Incumbent Sheriff Steve Fenwick faces a challenge from sheriff's department Sgt. Craig Sibbitt in the primary.
A 10-year merit deputy, Sibbitt seeks to unseat Fenwick, who was appointed sheriff in 2008 before winning the 2010 election with contested races in the primary and general elections.
Other incumbents who have filed include Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges, Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter, District 2 Commissioner Max L. Watts Jr., District 1 Councilman David Fuhrman and Assessor Nancy Dennis.
With Clerk Marty Watts and Recorder Opal Sutherlin retiring after 2014, newcomer Heather Gilbert has filed to run for clerk and Tracy Bridges is seeking the recorder's office.
Among township trustees on the ballot, incumbent Pat McFadden will face Dale Monnett in Cloverdale Township. Incumbents Marsha S. Carrington (Floyd Township) and Steve Butts (Greencastle Township), along with newcomer Jess L. Norton (Russell Township) have also filed as candidates in their townships.
Three townships seen filings for their advisory board positions, with incumbents Elaine Pearson and Ron Smith seeking two of the three available spots in Cloverdale Township, Marilyn Clearwaters in Greencastle Township and Bobby Dennis in Warren Township.
Smith is the only Democrat to have filed in Putnam County through Monday.
A number of key offices have seen no filings at this early date.
No one has filed to run for Putnam County surveyor, an office currently occupied by David Penturf.
Likewise, the Secretary of State's Election Division did not list State Sens. Pete Miller (R-District 24) and Rodric Bray (R-District 37) or State Rep. Jim Baird (R-District 44) among candidates as of Tuesday morning.
No challengers have yet filed for these offices either.
Two-term U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-District 4) has also announced his bid for re-election.
Candidates have until noon on Friday, Feb. 7 to file a declaration of candidacy for the primary election. The Banner Graphic will periodically revisit the candidates on the ballot during the filing period.