Two incumbents facing challenges as primary ballots set

Sunday, February 9, 2014
Each candidate for county offices in the 2014 Putnam County 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. Deadline for submitting such articles will be Friday, Feb. 21. We ask that candidates limit 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. A color headshot photograph should be provided with the written submission. The Banner Graphic plans to publish all articles submitted by candidates by the April 5 edition of the newspaper. No separate candidate stories for primary contestants will be run after that date. It should also be noted that no candidate introduction stories will be run in a Monday edition.

With the close of the candidate filing period on Friday, the May 6 primary election ballots are set in Putnam County.

Among county offices, two incumbents will face contested races in the Republican primary.

Sheriff Steve Fenwick is being challenged from within his party by sheriff's department Sgt. Craig Sibbitt, as well as Indiana State Trooper Scott Stockton.

District 2 County Commissioner Max Watts also faces a pair of challengers in John K. Huber and Rick Woodall.

All other county offices are uncontested in the primary. Incumbent Councilmen David Fuhrman (District 1), Darrel Thomas (District 3) and Keith Berry (District 4) are joined on the Republican ticket by newcomer Jill Bridgewater from District 2.

Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges, Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter, Surveyor David Penturf and Assessor Nancy Dennis are also unopposed in their bids for the Republican nominations.

Newcomers Heather Gilbert and Tracy Bridges are also unopposed in their respective bids for county clerk and county recorder.

In state races of local interest, Rep. Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) is unopposed in the GOP primary seeking his third term as the District 44 state representative.

District 4 U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita also faces a number of challengers for his seat, both within the Republican Party and from Democrats. Fellow Republican Kevin Grant is seeking the GOP nod, while five Democrats are running for the seat.

Among these, of most interest locally is Putnam County's Jeffrey Blaydes, who ran for District 1 county commissioner in 2012.

Also on the Democrat ballot will be John Dale, Roger Day, John Futrell and Howard Joseph Pollchik.

Superior Court Judge

Charles "Denny" Bridges (R)

Prosecuting Attorney

Tim Bookwalter (R)

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Heather Gilbert (R)

Recorder

Tracy Bridges (R)

Sheriff

Steve Fenwick (R)

Craig Sibbitt (R)

Scott Stockton (R)

Surveyor

David E. Penturf (R)

Assessor

Nancy Dennis (R)

Commissioner -- 2nd District

John K. Huber (R)

Max L. Watts (R)

Ricky Woodall (R)

County Council -- 1st District

David Fuhrman (R)

County Council -- 2nd District

Jill Bridgewater (R)

County Council -- 3rd District

Darrel L. Thomas (R)

County Council -- 4th District

H. Keith Berry (R)

Russell Township Trustee

Ronda Lee Bixler (R)

Jess L. Norton (R)

Franklin Township Trustee

Clyde Coulter (R)

Debra Sillery (D)

Jackson Township Trustee

James Hipsher (R)

Clinton Township Trustee

Brenda G. Heacock (R)

Monroe Township Trustee

Richard K. Pronckus (R)

Floyd Township Trustee

Marsha S. Carrington (R)

Joe Myers (R)

Madison Township Trustee

Jeffrey W. Alexander (R)

Greencastle Township Trustee

Steve Butts (R)

Marion Township Trustee

Gregory L. Arnold (R)

Warren Township Trustee

Karen Nelson Heavin (R)

Washington Township Trustee

Patricia S. (Pat) Sheldon (R)

Warren Township Trustee

Karen Nelson Heavin (R)

Jefferson Township Trustee

Terry Clifford (D)

Cloverdale Township Trustee

Pat McFadden (R)

Dale Monnett (R)

Franklin Township Advisory Board

Nancy M. Brown (D)

Franklin Ford (D)

Clinton Township Advisory Board

Gerald E. (Jerry) Ensor (R)

Monroe Township Advisory Board

Patricia Inman (R)

Nancy McBride (R)

Howard Thomas (R)

Floyd Township Advisory Board

James E. Greeson (R)

Patricia A. Lehr (R)

Judy A. Rozelle (R)

Madison Township Advisory Board

Jerry R. Alexander (R)

Donald Bowlby (D)

Jerry Williams (D)

Linda Hill Williamson (R)

Greencastle Township Advisory Board

Karen Hill Ambler (R)

Marilyn R. Clearwaters (R)

Charles Miles (D)

Marion Township Advisory Board

DeLoss Greenlee (R)

Sherman R. Sparks (R)

Jim Williamson (R)

Washington Township Advisory Board

Jason Keeney (R)

Warren Township Advisory Board

Bobby Dennis (R)

Jefferson Township Advisory Board

Richard Coffin (R)

Cloverdale Township Advisory Board

Elaine Pearson (R)

Ron Smith (D)

Steve Walters (R)

Cloverdale Town Council -- At Large

Coweta Patton (R)

Cloverdale Town Council -- 3rd Ward

Cindy J. Holland (R)

Republican State Convention Delegate (vote for 12)

Beau Baird

Jim Baird

H. Keith Berry

Jack D. Billman

Joan P. Billman

Marsha S. Carrington

Gerald E. Ensor (Jerry)

Sherrie Fenwick

Donald G. Havey

Jennifer Jackson

Jess L. Norton

Gary A. Redmon