Candidate filing for the May primary heads into its final week. The race for Starke County Council is starting to heat up, with four Republicans filed for the three available at-large seats. They include Don Binkley, Sam Byer, Todd Lienbach, and incumbent Kay Gudeman. Voters will have to narrow that list down to three during the primary. As it currently stands, the winners would face Democrats Chuck Estok and Karl Swihart in November.
The District 1 county commissioner’s race is up to two candidates, with Republican Mark Gourley and Democrat Brad Hazelton looking to replace outgoing commissioner Kathy Norem. Democrat August Eckert and incumbent Republican Charlie Chesak have both filed to run for county commissioner District 3.
The other contested race so far is for county treasurer, with Monica Miller challenging incumbent Kay Chaffins for the Democratic Party nomination. At this point, the winner would face Republican Tom DeCola in the General Election. Democrat Bill Crase is seeking reelection as county surveyor.
Pulaski County now has a couple contested races for county commissioner. Republicans Maurice Loehmer and Terry Young are running for the District 1 seat. As it stands, the winner would face Democrat Doug Denton in November. Meanwhile, two Republicans, Mervin Lemeron and Robert Schultz, have filed to run for the District 2 seat.
Three candidates have filed to run for the three at-large county council seats: John Masterson, Steve Nellans, and incumbent Ken Boswell. Auditor Laura Wheeler, Recorder Sue Fox, Treasurer Teresa Bryant, and Winamac Town Council members Tom Murray and Jim Watkins are all seeking reelection as Republicans. As of last Thursday, no one had filed to run for Winamac Clerk-Treasurer, Medaryville Clerk-Treasurer, or Medaryville Town Council.
A complete list of candidates, including those for state and federal offices, can be found on the Indiana Secretary of State’s website. Candidate filing for the May primary continues until Friday.
