Primary ballot filling up as deadline looms

Friday, February 2, 2018

Suddenly, there’s a race for District 2 County Commissioner.

One week ago, no candidates had filed for the position currently held by Board of Commissioners President Rick Woodall.

As of Friday afternoon, not only is Woodall, of Greencastle, set to appear on the May 8 primary ballot, but so is an additional Republican challenger as well as a Democrat.

Also seeking the Republican nod will be one-time Putnam County Planner Kim Hyten, Fillmore.

On the Democrat side, longtime South Putnam School Board member Steve Cash, Fillmore, is seeking the District 2 position.

Cash is one of two Democrats now vying for county nominations in May. Matt Cummings, Greencastle, is seeking the Democrat nod for County Council District 3 in the primary.

On the Republican side, fellow Greencastle resident Haywood Ware is seeking the seat left open by the retirement of current Council President Darrel Thomas.

Another new development is a challenger to current County Recorder Tracy Bridges from within her own party.

Rhonda Chaney, Greencastle, will also appear on the Republican ballot in May.

The only other new filing at the county level is Republican David Penturf of Madison Township seeking another term as county surveyor.

Other county candidates who had already filed include incumbent Tim Bookwalter for prosecutor, incumbent Heather Gilbert for clerk, Sheriff Scott Stockton and challenger Jerrod Baugh, Janet Brown for assessor, incumbent David Fuhrman for County Council District 1 and incumbent Keith Berry for County Council District 4.

All of these candidates are Republicans.

There are still no candidates from either party for County Council District 2. Voter Registration Clerk Stacia Hathaway reports that Republican incumbent Jill Bridgewater has taken a candidate packet but has not filed her paperwork.

A number of contested races exist for township trustees and advisory boards. These will be reported upon once the filing period closes at noon on Friday, Feb. 9.

With just one week remaining, local candidate packets can still be picked up from or turned in to the Putnam County Voter Registration Office on the courthouse second floor, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m.-noon on Friday.

For more information, call Hathaway at 655-1538.

In state races of local interest, no new candidates have filed for District 44 State Representative, with Democrat Kim Fidler and Republicans Beau Baird and Jess Norton seeking the seat.

There are now 11 candidates for Fourth District Congressman. They include Democrats Tobi Beck, Roger Day, Joe Mackey and Veronikka Ziol and Republicans Jim Baird, Jim Banks, Steve Braun, Kevin Grant, Darin Patrick Griesey, Diego Morales, James Nease and Tim Radice.

Like local candidates, state candidates have until noon on Friday, Feb. 9 to register.

State declarations of candidacy (form CAN-2) may be with the Secretary of State or the Indiana Election Division.

The Secretary of State’s Office is located in Room 201 of the Indiana Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis. The Election Division is located in Room E-204 of the Indiana Government Center, 302 W. Washington St., Indianapolis. Offices are open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Further information can be found by calling the Election Division at 317-232-3939, or visiting www.in.gov/elections.