All Roachdale races contested as other vacancies remain

With the deadline to file to run in 2019 municipal elections just days away, Roachdale residents are the only Putnam County voters guaranteed to have fully contested elections in their community.

The deadline to file candidate paperwork with the Putnam County Voter Registration Office looms at noon on Monday, July 1.

With three new filings this week, there are now two candidates for clerk-treasurer in the northern Putnam County town, as well as four people vying for three at-large council positions.

For clerk-treasurer, incumbent Debbie Sillery will seek another term against challenger Michael Arnold.

Meanwhile, Katrina Asher and former town marshal Mike Mahoy have thrown their hats in the ring for town council. They join Holly Cook and Richard Miles Sr. on the ballot.

Cook is the only council incumbent seeking office thus far, as Zach Bowers and Kevin Cook have not filed.

Mahoy isn’t the only former town marshal seeking office, as longtime Bainbridge lawman Rodney Fenwick has added his name to the town council candidates.

Fenwick joins incumbents Jerry Lents and Joel Thompson on the Bainbridge Town Council ballot.

This still leaves no contested races in Bainbridge, as the three men are seeking three positions, and no one has filed to run for clerk-treasurer, including incumbent Monica Bray.

Cloverdale had two new names enter the fray recently, with independents challenging two of the council candidates already on the ballot.

Samantha Hinman is challenging Republican incumbent Gary Bennington for an at-large seat. Meanwhile, Robert Anderson joins Republican Rick Dearwester in seeking the Ward 2 position currently occupied by veteran councilman Don Sublett.

Cloverdale’s other two races feature Republican incumbents without challengers, as Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway and Ward 1 Councilman Larry Fidler each seek another term.

Fillmore has just one candidate for each open position, with Tonya Gruenholz the only candidate for clerk-treasurer, along with Bill Ashcraft, Cyrus “C.J.” Huller and Meridith Trusty for council.

Ashcraft and Huller are both incumbents, while Trusty is a one-time councilman.

Incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Jayna Haldeman and incumbent council member Robin Duncan have not filed.

Finally, in the Town of Russellville, no candidates have filed.

If no one appears on the ballot, Martha Mandleco would hold onto the clerk-treasurer office, while Cary McGaughey, Cathy Jones and Jim Davis would retain their council seats.

For anyone wishing to obtain and file candidate paperwork, the Putnam County Voter Registration Office is located on the second floor of the Putnam County Courthouse and is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, call Voter Registration Clerk Stacia Hathaway 655-1538..

All completed candidate paperwork must be turned in by noon on Monday, July 1.

Voters in all county municipalities are set to go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5