Republican ballot growing more crowded for May primary

With three candidates for sheriff and two candidates each for a pair of other county offices, the May 3 primary election is taking shape on the Republican side.

While Jerrod Baugh, Steve Hibler and Dwight Simmons have all been campaigning for the Republican nod since last summer, only Hibler had formally filed as a candidate as of last week.

That has now changed, with Baugh and Simmons having both filed as candidates to replace current Sheriff Scott Stockton.

In a position that is not term limited, longtime County Surveyor David Penturf is now seeking another term in office against the primary challenge of Greg Williams, who had filed last week.

A familiar name is back on the ballot for Putnam County Council, as former Councilman Darrel Thomas filed paperwork to seek the nomination in District 3, where fellow candidate Danny Wallace has served since 2019.

Two other current county officials will be seeking the nomination for a different elected office. Current Clerk Heather Gilbert has filed to run for county recorder. Meanwhile, Recorder Tracy Bridges is seeking the clerk’s seat.

Both candidates face term limits in their current posts.

Two county offices currently have no candidates even though the current incumbents are eligible for additional terms. These are County Commissioner District 2 and County Council District 3, where Rick Woodall and Jay Alcorn are the respective incumbents.

County races stack up as follows:

• Circuit Court Judge: Matthew Headley (Incumbent);

• Prosecutor: Tim Bookwalter (I);

• Sheriff: Jerrod E. Baugh, Steven L. Hibler, Dwight Simmons;

• Clerk: Tracy L. Bridges;

• Surveyor: David E. Penturf (I), Greg Williams;

• Recorder: Heather L. Gilbert;

• Assessor: Don Badolato

• County Commissioner District 2: No candidates filed;

• County Council District 1: David Fuhrman (I);

• County Council District 2: No candidate filed;

• County Council District 3: Darrel Thomas, Danny Wallace (I);

• County Council District 4: Keith Berry (I).

Several individuals have also filed to run for township trustees throughout the county, though no races are contested so far.

Two local town councils also have races this year, with incumbent Cindy Holland seeking the Republican nod for Cloverdale Town Council Ward 3 and Tony Riggen seeking the nomination for Russellville Town Council at-large.

Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) has a primary challenger to his Fourth District seat in T. Charles Bookwalter of Thorntown.

State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) is so far unopposed in his bid for another two-year term in District 44.

NOTE: A previous version of this story had Heather Gilbert listed as running for the incorrect office.