Primary election taking shape

Debbie Blank

Tue, May 13 2008

— After candidates met the noon Feb. 22 deadline, county races are set for this year’s primary election Tuesday, May 6.
While most contenders are unopposed, there are a few exciting races.
March 7 is the deadline for the Indiana Election Division to certify all filings. At that time, presidential and state candidates can be detailed.
Ripley County
Democrats campaigning for county offices are: Carl Taul, Holton, Circuit Court judge; Lynnette Fledderman, Batesville, Superior Court judge; Michael Baker, Milan, District 2 county commissioner; David Forwalt, Holton, clerk; E.G. Ammerman Jr., Sunman, and William Dramann, Batesville, county council members at large (a maximum of three from each party can be chosen).
Republicans competing for county positions are: James Morris, Dillsboro, Superior Court judge; Mark Busching, Versailles, and Charles Folz, Dillsboro, District 2 county commissioner; Ronald Buchanan, Versailles, coroner; Ginger Bradford, Versailles, recorder; Mary Ann McCoy, Holton, clerk.
Also, Earline Copeland, Versailles, treasurer; John Little, Versailles, Lawrence Nickell, Cross Plains, and Gerald Stutler, Friendship, District 3 county council members; Donald Dunbar and William Warren, Osgood, Frank Hillberg, Madison, and Benjamin Peetz, Batesville, county council members at large (a maximum of three from each party can be chosen).
Only Republicans have filed for town races.
Holton: Krista Bartosz, clerk-treasurer; Angela Farrell, Paul Hughes, Ryan Lauber and Scott McNeelan, council members.
Osgood: Tamara Wilhoit, clerk-treasurer; Ed Newman, Rodney Stepleton, Jeffrey Volz and Larry Winters, council members (one seat is open).
Nonpartisan school board filings include William Roberts, Jac-Cen-del, Town of Osgood; Paul Hardy, Jac-Cen-Del at large; Edward Amberger, Moores Hill, and Krista Thompson, Milan, Town of Milan; Douglas Norman and David Voss, Milan at large.
The Ripley County Clerk’s Office did not release lists of persons who filed to be state convention delegates and Republican Party precinct committeemen.
Franklin County
Three Democrats will be on the primary ballot for District 3 county commissioner: Michael Moore, Laurel, Jeff Pence, Metamora, and Monica Yane, Oldenburg.
Other Democrats campaigning for county offices are: Carroll Lanning, Brookville, county council at large member; Angela Kuntz, Brookville, recorder; and Joe Gillespie, Brookville, surveyor.
Democrat Thomas O’Connor, Brookville, has enlisted to be a state convention delegate.
Four Democrats want to be part of Brookville government: Linda Dunn, clerk-treasurer; Michael Biltz, Ward 1 council; Robert O’Bryan and John Sprague, Ward 5 council.
Thomas Wilson, Laurel, is the sole Republican candidate for District 3 county commissioner.
At the primary, six Republicans will be narrowed to three county council at large contenders: Jason Allen, Martha Bergman and Stephen Fields, Brookville; John Cookendorfer and Scott McDonough, West Harrison; and Tom Linkel, Batesville.
Other Republicans competing for county offices are: Pamela Beneker and Carol Monroe, Brookville, recorder; Rebecca Oglesby, Brookville, treasurer.
Republican Samuel Schuck is running for the Brookville Town Council Ward 3 seat.
Eight Republicans will be state convention delegates: Michele Baker, Raymond Baker and Linda Hall, West Harrison; Martha Bergman, Brian Campbell, Carol Monroe and Rebecca Oglesby, Brookville; and Nellie Glascock, Cedar Grove.
Many Republicans filed to be precinct committeemen. One from each precinct will be elected: Donald Dickey Jr. and Diana Schantz, Batesville 1; Brad Dreyer, Batesville 2; Hollie Sintz, Bath; Sylvia Precht, Blooming Grove; Martha Shea, Brookville 1; Stephen Brack and Joan Koch, Brookville 2; Steve Bischoff, Brookville 3; Mike Monroe, Brookville 4; Mary Helms, Brookville 5; Louis Linkel, Butler; Brian Campbell, Fairfield; Dennis Fritz and Aleen Thackery, Highland 1; Michael Kohlsdorf and Thomas Rasnick, Highland 2; Leroy Combs, Laurel; Juanita Ferguson, Metamora; Mark Struewing, Oldenburg; Andrew Runyon, Posey; Cynthia Ziemke, Ray 1; Jared Laudick and Jill Leising-Koch, Ray 2; Gerry Asher and Kenneth Konradi, Salt Creek 1; Robert Pierson and Carey Wildman, Salt Creek 2; Jean Dorrel, Springfield; Raymond Baker, John Cookendorfer and Loren McMillin, Whitewater 1; James Glascock, Matthew Keck and Scott McDonough, Whitewater 2.
Two Franklin County Community School Corp. races are opposed and one isn’t. Nonpartisan candidates are Francis Brumback, Laurel, District 1; Justin Moore and Charles Sprague, Brookville, District 3; Matthew Siedling, Brookville, and Thomas Storch, West Harrison, District 4.
Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com. To comment on stories, visit batesvilleheraldtribune.com.