Democrats challenge 2 GOP incumbents in county races

Nancy Wells and Wally Steele are looking to reverse 22 years and 10 elections worth of history when Putnam County voters go to the polls on Tuesday.

It was on Nov. 8, 1994, when Nancy Michael was re-elected to the Putnam County Council, that a Democrat was last elected to county-wide office.

Like a number of recent elections, the Republican slate is largely unopposed in the county, except for District 3 county commissioner and county coroner.

In District 3, Wells is challenging veteran county commissioner Don Walton.

Seeking his second term since return to the county commissioners, Walton has actually served in the capacity for 28 years — 1977 through 2004 — and as four as a county councilman from 2005-08.

Born in Cloverdale, Walton has lived in Putnam County his entire life. He graduated from Belle Union High School and served in the U.S. Army.

He is married to Micalene, and they have three children and five grandchildren.

Walton is a self-employed bricklayer and contractor. He owns and operates Don Walton Builders and Stove Sales in Cloverdale. He is a member of the Cloverdale Church of Christ. He is also a member of Cloverdale and Greencastle chambers of commerce and Putnam County Farm Bureau.

Walton listed his priorities if re-elected as upgrading the county’s bridges and roads, as well as focuing on programs for senior citizens and youths.

He currently serves as the commissioners’ representative to West Central Economic Development.

Wells comes with her own record of public service, having served on the South Putnam School Board for 20 years, retiring at the end of 2013.

She is a graduate of Purdue University and a retiree of Duke Energy after 32 years as a forecasting analyst.

She currently on the board of directors at the Putnam County Community Foundation, serving as treasurer and on the Finance Committee and Youth Philanthropy Committee.

She is a member of the local Elks Club as the treasurer, National Scholarship Chair and House Committee.

On the county level, she is the president of the Putnam County Planning Commission.

Her priorities if elected include county financial management, roads and bridges, employment needs, benefits and purches.

The Third District includes the townships of Cloverdale, Jefferson, Warren and Washington. Although the representative must live in this district, voters throughout the county elect the position.

The coroner race pits GOP incumbent Dave Brown against Democrat challenger Wally Steele.

Having served with the office in some capacity since 1998, Brown is completing his first term as the Putnam County coroner. He began as a forensic photographer in 1998 and became a paid, fulltime death investigator in 2000 and served as chief deputy coroner from 2004-12.

Brown has worked for the county for 22 years, beginning as a 911 dispatcher and recently retiring as a captain at the Putnam County Jail.

He also served in the U.S. Air Force for five years.

During his nearly four years as coroner, Brown has acquired a vehicle for the department, written a new protocol for mass fatalities as well as the department manual and increased the number of death investigators, all while staying under budget.

Steele has worked with local funeral homes, learning the skills and compassion with which one must speak as coroner.

He also has experience in customer service service from decades in a customer service call center.

Steele has served with volunteer groups, governing over local scholarship boards, coaching baseball and participating in the faith community.

He emphasized his communication skills and level-headedness as important traits for the job.

The county ballot will also feature a number of unopposed Republicans seeking office.

Incumbents on the list include Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley, Auditor Lorie Hallett, District 1 Commissioner David Berry and At-large Councilmen Gene Beck, Phil Gick and Larry Parker.

Newcomer Kathy Minnick, currently a deputy treasurer, is running unopposed for Putnam County treasurer.

With early voting nearly at an end, the polls will be open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.