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Party filing deadline passes quietly
Town of Russellville, Cloverdale Schools feature only contested local races
When Putnam County voters go to the polls this fall, it will be almost exclusively for races at the national and state level.
With no Democrats the local ballot, there will be no contested races at the county level, while there will be a pair of contested races in the Town of Russellville and just one actual race across 10 possible contested spots on three county school boards.
There were no deadline filings for either party Wednesday, as the Democrats did not fill any positions on the county ballot, while Republicans had no spots to fill.
With that, the Republican primary back in May effectively set the roster of county officials for the next four years, with incumbent Kristina Berish as auditor, Karrie Minor as treasurer, incumbent Todd Zeiner as coroner, Andy Beck as District 1 commissioner, incumbent Tom Helmer as District 3 commissioner and Amanda Brown, Kerry Williams and incumbent Stephanie Campbell as at-large county council members.
The deadline for independents to file to run was on Monday, and that deadline came with some choices for voters in the Town of Russellville.
Incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Martha Mandleco will face a challenge from fellow independent Anissa M. Lynn. Meanwhile, incumbent Councilman Cary McGaughey will be challenged by Daniel A. Justiniano.
The Town of Russellville is unique among Putnam County municipalities in that its election terms line up with federal, state and local elections, with the clerk-treasurer and one council position this year and the other two council positions two years from now.
As reported previously, there is only one contested school board race this fall, with Aragon Gould joining incumbents Donna Fidler, Katrina Lewis and Joe Mann in a four-way race for three Cloverdale Township spots on the Cloverdale School Board.
Also in the Cloverdale Community Schools district, no candidates file for the Jackson Township, Owen County, seat on the school board. Mike Rightmyer is the incumbent.
The North Putnam School Board, has exactly one candidate for each of its four positions — former board member Travis Lambermont for at-large, Nathan Scott for Franklin Township, incumbent Heather Lawson in Monroe Township and Zac Williams for Russell Township.
On the South Putnam School Board, only incumbent and current President Lisa Cooper will appear on the ballot, unopposed for her Washington Township seat. The remaining two positions — Marion and at-large — have no candidates.
Hollie Hutcheson is the current Marion Township representative, while Joseph Roach occupies the at-large seat.
In the case of any unfilled school board positions, incumbents retain their seats unless they resign.
Several federal and state races of local interest are on the ballot. Incumbent Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) faces a challenge from Derrick Holder (R-Martinsville) in Indiana’s Fourth District.
In the Indiana State Senate, the District 37 race features incumbent and President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) and challenger Kimberly D. Schofield (D-Mooresville), while the District 24 race features former Greencastle City Councilor Veronica Pejril (D-Greencastle) and Republican Brett Clark (R-Avon).
In the Indiana House of Representatives, Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) faces no opposition for his District 44 seat.
The general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5 with early voting opening on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Voter registration is open from now through Monday, Oct. 8.