County, State Offices Up For Election

Yes, it's nearing election time once again.

Candidates can begin filing for the primary election beginning on Jan. 23. Filing ends at noon Feb. 22, which is also the last day and time for candidate withdrawals.

The primary election will be held May 7 and the general election will be Nov. 5. Voter registration closes April 8 for the primary and Oct. 7 for the general election.

Only the U.S. Representative Third District seat is up for election at the federal level for local voters. Currently, the Third District is held by Tim Roemer.

Statewide, the following positions are open for election: state senator 17th district, currently held by Harold "Potch" Wheeler; state representatives 18th (David Wolkins), 22nd (William Ruppel) and 23rd (William C. Friend) districts.

In the general election only, the following state offices are up for election: secretary of state (Sue Ann Gilroy), state treasurer (Tim Berry), auditor of state (Connie Nass) and clerk of the supreme and appellate courts (Brian Bishop).

At the county level, the following positions are up for election: Superior Court I, currently held by Judge Duane Huffer; Superior Court II, James Jarrette; Superior Court III, Joe Sutton; prosecuting attorney, Charles Waggoner; county auditor, Sue Ann Mitchell; county recorder, LaShawn Brumfield; county sheriff, Aaron Rovenstine; county assessor, Laurie Renier; county commissioner southern district, Avis Gunter; and county council districts 1-4, currently held by Jim Tranter, Harold Jones, Brad Tandy and John Kinsey.

In the primary only, the state convention delegates are up for election.

Up for election at the township level are the township assessors for Tippecanoe (currently Judy Prado), Turkey Creek (Mary Gervasi), Wayne (Kristy Mayer) and Plain townships (Jean Lynch); all township trustees; township board members; and precinct committeemen.

Each of the six local school boards has seats up for grabs.

In the primary, Tippecanoe Valley School Board districts 3, 4 and 5 are up for election. Current school board members holding those seats and up for re-election are Rod Eaton, Mark Wise and Tom Weaver.

For Wa-Nee Community School Board, Harrison, Locke and Union townships' seats are up for election. All are in Elkhart County.

Whitko Community School Board seats up for election in the primary include districts 1 (currently held by Deb Collier and Mike Braddock) and 3 (Larry Long and J. David Tranter).

Triton's, Wawasee's and Warsaw's elections will be held in the general election only.

Up for election for Triton is district 1 (Steve Blackford), 2 (Dave Shively) and 4 (Larry Lemler).

Wawasee's are 1 (Brian Dawes), 2 (Jeff Wells, Carol Swartzendruber) and 3 (Dallas Winchester, Marion Acton).

Warsaw's are 1 (Brad Brail), 2 (Cathy Folk), 5 (Larry Chamberlain) and 7 (Roy Szymanski).