Offices up for grabs around the county

A full slate of candidates in three towns and contested races for key positions in two others promise to make Tuesday's municipal general election an interesting one in shaping the future of Putnam County's municipalities.

The towns of Bainbridge, Roachdale and Russellville each features contested races across the board. In Cloverdale, the clerk-treasurer is facing a challenge, while in Fillmore, the only incumbent council member is in a race with the town's former clerk-treasurer.

Bainbridge

Perhaps the biggest news in the Bainbridge town election came back in the spring, with three-term Clerk-Treasurer Jason Hartman staying true to his promise not to seek another term. In his place, however, is no shortage of candidates, as Bobbi Boller, Monica Bray and Pamela Kashman are in a three-way race to take over the position.

Another three-way race is set for the Ward 1 council spot, as incumbent Chuck McElwee faces off against Raymond Curran and Scott Curran.

In Ward 2, Jerry Lents is the incumbent, facing a challenge from Jim Watson. Lents has only held the position since July, when he was appointed to replace Bonnie Osborn, who moved out of the ward and had to resign her position.

Osborn's move into Ward 3 sets up a race between two candidates who were board colleagues until recently, as she filed to run against incumbent Joel Thompson.

Roachdale

Like its neighbor to the south, Roachdale also features a three-way race for clerk-treasurer, with incumbent Martha Louk taking on Katrina Asher and Debbie Sillery.

With councilmen elected at-large, the town has six people vying for three council seats on Tuesday. With Jack Jones and Barbara Scott choosing not to run, only Zach Bowers remains on the slate from the past four years. He is joined on the ballot by Holly Cook, Kevin Cook, Jim Cromwell, Rick Kiefer and Rick Miles Jr.

Russellville

Russellville also elects its three-member council from at-large candidates. Incumbents Cary McGaughey and Cathy Jones are both seeking another term, joined by newcomers Debbie Bartelt and Jim Russell Davis.

Incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Devon Davis also faces a challenge from Martha Mandleco.

Cloverdale

Republican Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway is the only incumbent in Cloverdale facing a challenge, with independent Robyn Hughes also on Tuesday's ballot.

Three of five Cloverdale Town Council seats are on the ballot, but none are contested, giving another four years to incumbents Larry Fidler (Ward 1), Don Sublet (Ward 2) and Gary Bennington (at-large).

Fillmore

The Town of Fillmore features perhaps the most convoluted Election Day storylines, with a wide-open position likely to be filled, another position to be resigned and a former clerk-treasurer challenging the only incumbent on the Town Council.

No candidates will appear on the ballot for clerk-treasurer, however, newly-appointed Clerk-Treasurer Tom Gilson has expressed his desire to continue his work.

While it is standard practice for the current officeholder to continue in such a situation, Gilson will have to first resign his Ward 2 seat on the council. Gilson is the only candidate filed to replace the retiring Allan Jones in the seat. However, he cannot hold both offices at once, and plans to continue as clerk-treasurer.

In Ward 3, Robin Duncan is unopposed to replace the retiring Meredith Trusty on the council.

In Ward 1, the only incumbent on the board Curt Leonard faces the town's only contested race in the form of Paul Alleyn.

Alleyn served as clerk-treasurer of the town for four months, having been appointed in May of this year. However, he resigned in September after widespread complaints about his job performance from council members and residents.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. For a list of polling places, see the story on this page.