GOP races crowded for commissioner, council, coroner

Putnam County Courthouse

When the votes are tallied in the Tuesday, May 5 primary election, the GOP will have a nominee for District 3 Putnam County commissioner.

However, it’s become increasingly difficult to predict who that nominee will be.

As Friday’s noon filing deadline came and went, two more men added their name to the Republican ballot, bringing the total number of candidates for the nomination to six.

Now seeking the District 3 nomination are former Putnam County Sheriff Tom Helmer and Ernie Sheldon.

Helmer retired last year as a captain with the sheriff’s department and continues to serve as a courthouse deputy and director of the Putnam County Emergency Management Agency.

He and Sheldon now join incumbent Don Walton, as well as fellow challengers Greg Williams, Shawn McCammack Sr. and Tom Burnett in seeking the GOP nod.

No Democrats have filed to seek the District 3 nomination, though the party could appoint a candidate following the primary.

District 3 is composed of Washington, Warren, Cloverdale and Jefferson townships, though the entire county votes in the race.

Similarly crowded is the race for the three at-large county council positions.

On the Republican side, the field swelled from one candidate early in the week to six by the Friday deadline.

Incumbent Phil Gick, current North Putnam School Board member Ron Spencer, former two-term Putnam County Auditor Stephanie (Summitt) Campbell, Bill Earl and Bill Mentgen are seeking one of the three Republican nominations, joining incumbent Larry Parker, who had already filed.

Benny Whitlock remains the only Democrat seeking a council spot.

Another race highlighted by late filings is for county coroner.

While Perry Wainman remains the only Democrat candidate, three people added their names to a Republican race that had no candidates as of Monday.

Now seeking the GOP nod are Ryan Birkemeier, Andrea Moore and Jon Myers.

Birkemeier is currently on the staff of Coroner Dave Brown, who is will reach his two-term limit at year’s end. Moore is a former deputy coroner.

The other contested county race is for county auditor, which features former two-term Auditor Kristina (Warren) Alexander and Tina Sillery, who previously served as a deputy auditor.

Like Brown, current Auditor Lorie Hallett will reach her two-term limit at the end of 2020.

No Democrats have filed for the position.

Uncontested Republicans seeking county positions include three incumbents -- Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges, Putnam County Treasurer Kathy Minnick and District 1 Commissioner David Berry.

District 1 is composed of Russell, Franklin, Jackson, Monroe and Floyd townships.

Delegates to both the Republican and Democratic state conventions are set to appear on the primary ballot, as are Republican precinct committeemen.

However, none of these races are contested, as the GOP convention has 13 candidates for 13 positions, the Democratic convention has six candidates for nine spots, and all Republican precinct committeemen positions have one or no candidates.

As such, these races will be left off the ballot if the respective county party chairmen approve.

For a list of these candidates see below.

Local Primary Ballots

Republican
Superior Court Judge: Denny Bridges
Auditor: Kristina (Warren) Alexander, Tina Sillery
Treasurer: Kathy Minnick
Coroner: Ryan Birkemeier, Andrea Moore, Jon Myers
Commissioner District 1: David E. Berry
Commissioner District 3: Tom Burnett, Tom Helmer, Shawn D. McCammack Sr., Ernie Sheldon, Donald K. Walton, Greg Williams

County Council At-large (vote for 3): Stephanie (Summitt) Campbell, Bil Earl, Phil Gick, Bill Mentgen, Larry L. Parker, Ronald Spencer II
Republican State Convention Delegates (vote for 13): Beau Baird, Jim Baird, Scott F. Bieniek, Jack D. Billman, Joan P. Billman, Marsha S. Carrington, Elizabeth M. Fiscus, Laura Hatton, Steven L. Hibler, Jennifer S. Jackson, Bill Mentgen, Beva L. Miller, Jacob Widner
Republican Precinct Committeemen
Monroe West: Karen Griffin
Floyd West: Marsha S. Carrington
Greencastle North: Scott F. Bieniek
First North: Wallace (Wally) Hinkle
Second West: Jacob Widner
Second East: Jim W. Ensley
Fourth West: Justin Long
Foxridge: Joan P. Billman
Marion North: Elizabeth M. Fiscus
Marion South: Tim Bookwalter
Warren: Keith Berry
Cloverdale 2: Jenni Artis
All other precincts have no candidates.

Democrat
Superior Court Judge: No candidate
Auditor: No candidate
Treasurer: No candidate
Coroner: Perry A. Wainman
Commissioner District 1: No candidate
Commissioner District 3: No candidate
County Council At-large (vote for 3): Benny Whitlock
Democratic Sate Convention Delegates (vote for 9): Bernard Batto, Teresa Batto, Kristien Hamilton, June Javens-Wolfe, Veronica Pejril, Eric Wolfe