2016 will be a big election year, as the country elects a new President and other elections are held at many different levels of government.
Here in Switzerland County it will be no different, as County Clerk of Courts Gayle Sullivan has announced that candidates wishing to run in the May Primary; and ultimately in the November General Election, may now make their intentions known.
At the county level, there are many different offices on this year’s ballot.
The office of County Treasurer; County Recorder; County Coroner; and County Surveyor will be up for new four year terms, as well as two of the three seats on the County Commissioners.
County residents will elect County Commissioners this year in Districts 1 and 2; and the three At-Large spots on the Switzeraland County Council will be up for election.
At the party level, this is the year that the Republicans will elect their Precinct Committeemen.
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The clerk’s office has already been a busy place, with candidates already signing up to run in the May 3rd Primary.
Those candidates who have filed, as of Wednesday morning, include:
– For County Treasurer: Democrat incumbent Vickie James has filed.
– For County Recorder: Democrat Nancy Brown Barker has filed.
– For County Coroner: Democrat Alicia Fritter has filed; as has Republican Clinton Earls.
– For County Commissioner, District 1: Republican incumbent Josh South; Republican Chris Clerkin; and Democrat Steve Crabtree have filed.
– For County Commissioner, District 2: Democrat incumbent Steve Lyons has filed.
– For the At Large seats on the Switzerland County Council, three will be elected. Each party will have the chance to elect three candidates to represent their party in the fall General Election; and then in the November 8th election will see the three top vote getters, regardless of party affiliation, win the seats.
So far, Democrats Andrea Brogan, Mark Powell, and incumbent Rachel Schuler have filed; as have Republicans Lisa Fisher and Steve Jones-Ellard.
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At the state level; Republican incumbent State Representative Randy Frye has filed for reelection to the District 67 seat, which encompasses Switzerland County.