Republicans won all but one of Pulaski County’s contested races Tuesday. Auditor Laura Wheeler will keep her office for another four years, after taking 65 percent of the vote, over Democrat Carmin Ruff. Wheeler was almost unseated in the primary, winning the Republican nomination by just 17 votes.
Maurice Loehmer will take the District 1 county commissioner seat currently held by Jerry Locke, who did not seek reelection. Loehmer defeated Doug Denton by a margin of 73-to-27-percent. He’ll join Charles Mellon, who was unopposed in his campaign for the District 2 seat being vacated by Kenny Becker, as well as returning Commissioner Mike McClure.
Meanwhile, Adam Loehmer and Tim Overmyer will join the Pulaski County Council, while Ken Boswell will return for another term. They defeated Renee Calabrese, the only Democrat in the at-large county council race. County Recorder Sue Fox won another term, defeating Criston Zehner by a margin of 77-to-23-percent.
On the Winamac Town Council, Democrat Larry Weaver will replace Republican Jim Watkins, while Republicans Judy Heater and Tom Murray will keep their seats for another four years. Weaver was the only Democrat to get more votes than a Republican in a Pulaski County race.
Democrat Judy Harwood was unseated from the Medaryville Town Council, with Art Conley, Joe Jackson Jr., and incumbent Suzanna J. Wilcoxon taking the three available seats. This was the second year in a row that Medaryville officials were up for election. That was to bring the town’s election cycle in line with presidential elections.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board will get a couple new members. Scott Hanson and Jimmy Terry will replace Larry Beach and Deke DeMarco as Monroe-Jefferson Township representatives. Beth Ruff will keep her school board seat after getting the most votes of the six candidates, while Kyle Johnson came in last.
Pulaski County voters chose Republicans for all the state and federal-level offices. President Trump got 73 percent of the county’s vote, while Governor Holcomb got 67 percent.
The Pulaski County Election Board says Tuesday’s election saw the highest voter turnout in recent memory at almost 65 percent, compared to 58 percent in 2016. Despite the high turnout, board members say that with a couple exceptions, wait times were relatively short on Election Day. More than 44 percent of those who cast ballots voted absentee.
That included nine voters who were either quarantined or positive for COVID-19, who voted by travel board. Election officials say the followed all of the necessary precautions and used the personal protective equipment supplied by the state.
Seven provisional votes were cast, but they’re not expected to impact the results. The election board also thanked all the poll workers and everyone who helped with the process.
Complete results from Pulaski County, including uncontested races, can be found below. Breakdowns by precinct are available here.
