Franklin County election results

Debbie Blank

Brookville May 06, 2008 11:27 pm

— A woman bested two men and a political newcomer triumphed over a courthouse regular in the Franklin County primary May 6.
Monica Yane, Oldenburg, handily was the Democratic choice for District 3 county commissioner, beating out Michael Moore, Laurel, and Jeff Pence, Metamora. In a replay of the 2004 fall election, she will face Commissioner Thomas Wilson, Laurel, the sole Republican candidate for that spot.
At 7:50 p.m., before any results were posted, Yane confessed to being nervous. “I just really don’t have any certain feeling how this is going to go.” She considered the election a test. “If I don’t win the primary, had I gone on and spent money and time, I wouldn’t have won” the general election.
After realizing she was successful around 9:45 p.m., Yane felt “very relieved.” Her next step? “I’m going to take a break and plan my daughter’s (June 21) wedding.” She knows her upcoming political challenge. “I have to beat an incumbent. I’ve got to get out there and convince people ... to switch.”
The recorder’s race was hard fought, with Brookville Republicans Pamela Beneker, in her first political contest, and Carol Monroe, the appointed recorder who previously was the county auditor, squaring off.
Early in the evening, Monroe was all smiles after her sister, Leanna Seegmueller, brought her a ceramic good luck elephant. She noted, “It’s been very difficult to find time to campaign” on top of her job and running her daughter to after school activities.
Beneker campaigned across the townships, observing, “It’s a big county.” She was exhausted after shattering an elbow in a fall Saturday and greeting voters at the Schilling Center, Brookville, all day.
Moments after her victory, Beneker was leaving the courthouse, feeling happy. “I know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us for November. Now I have to go to everybody in the county” canvassing for votes, not just Republicans.
Her contender is the unopposed Democrat Angela Kuntz, Brookville, who was watching the returns at the Main Street Democratic headquarters. “I’ve got all my stuff ready for the big one!”
County council at large hopefuls were narrowed from six Republicans to three after an “interesting, real close” race, noted Franklin County Republican Party Chairman John Worth, Posey Township. The top vote-getters were Tom Linkel, Batesville; and Jason Allen and Martha Bergman, Brookville. They won over Stephen Fields, Brookville; and John Cookendorfer and Scott McDonough, West Harrison.
When reached by phone late Tuesday, Linkel said he was “very glad and kind of proud” of the final tally. The candidate figured he received the most votes due to being “probably well known because of doing business (in trash collection) throughout the whole county” and having a political name. His dad, Lou Linkel, is a former county commissioner. What’s his next step? “We’re just sitting here talking about that. I’m looking forward to doing some parades” and meeting more voters.
Four-term council member Bergman was excited after the tight race was over. Of the voters, she said, “These are my friends. I want to do the best I can. I’m as interested as always.”
Before any results were in, Fields reported being “joyously exhausted ... We’ve been going for 14-plus hours.” At the polls, “we got a lot of good response and name recognition.” After learning of his loss, Fields said, “I’m let down. I was hoping to see some new names in the mix ... I wish them the best of luck in the fall.”
Incumbent Carroll Lanning, Brookville, is the sole Democrat campaigning to be a county council at large member.
Two unopposed office holders want to keep their seats: surveyor Joe Gillespie, Brookville, a Democrat; and treasurer Rebecca Oglesby, Brookville, a Republican.
After the primary, the Republican Party chairman reflected, “The candidates worked hard. The voters spoke. We have good candidates and we’re excited about it moving into the fall.”
Franklin County turnout during this presidential campaign year stood at 31.4 percent, much higher than 2004’s 16.4 percent and 2000’s 19 percent.

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