Switzerland County will hold a primary election on Tuesday, May 2nd, and County Clerk Ginger Peters is reporting that candidates are filing to be a part of the election.
The deadline for candidates wanting to run in the May primary is noon tomorrow (Friday, February 17th).
“We are accepting applications for those who want to vote by mail,” Ginger Peters said. “The deadline for registering to vote, or for those who have changed their name or moved since they voted last, needs to have those changes made by April 3rd, 2006.”
Ginger Peters also said that the county will have a new voting machine beginning with the primary election, and that anyone who would like to see the new machine or try it out before the election can stop by the clerk’s office anytime during business hours.
A county sheriff will be elected this year, and incumbent Democrat Nathan Hughes has filed for reelection. Currently, he will oppose William Browning in the Democratic primary; and Republican Daniel Goldstone has filed his candidacy for Sheriff on the Republican ticket.
District 3, which includes Pleasant and Cotton townships, will elect a County Commissioner. Incumbent Republican Kenton C. “K.C.” Banta has filed to run for reelection; and on the Democratic ticket, Evelina Brown has filed to run in the primary.
All four of the district seats for County Council are up for election this year; and in District 1, Republican Jeanette Andrew has filed; as has Republican Eric Cole. On the Democrat ticket, Tom Conroy has filed for the District 1 seat.
Incumbent Democrat Mike Jones has filed in District 2; and incumbent Democrat Don Covington has filed to hold onto his District 4 seat.
The county auditor’s office is up for election, and so far Democrats Rachel Bladen, Sharon Harris, and Randy See have filed to run in the primary. Incumbent Democrat Joan Armstrong has filed for reelection as county assessor.
Ginger Peters has also filed for reelection as County Clerk of the Circuit Court. She is a Democrat.
Township trustees will also be elected this year.
Current Cotton Township trustee Barbara Bowling has filed for reelection on the Democratic ticket; current Posey Township trustee Robert Jackman has filed for reelection on the Republican ticket; Andrew Jessup has filed as a Republican for the office of Pleasant Township trustee; and Chris See has filed as a Democrat for Posey Township trustee.
York Township will have an interesting race for Township Trustee, where current trustee Clifford “Kip” Hatton, who has served as a Republican in previous terms, is now running on the Democrat ticket. Beverly Stoops has filed for York Township Trustee on the Republican ticket.
In advisory board positions: Robert Richards has filed as a Republican in Pleasant Township; Carol Ann Sublett has filed as a Democrat in Jefferson Township; Larry Turner has filed as a Democrat in York Township; Earl Holmes has filed as a Democrat in York Township; Donald Morton has filed as a Republican in Pleasant Township; Michael Beatty has filed as a Democrat in York Township; Jill Hutcherson as a Republican for Posey Township; Shannon Jackson as a Republican for York Township; Pauline Johnson as a Democrat in Jefferson Township; Mark Jones as a Democrat in Posey Township; Brenda Shaw as a Democrat in Cotton Township; Lynda Spiller as a Democrat in Craig Township; Lulu Thomas as a Democrat in Posey Township; Roberta VonBargen as a Republican in Craig Township; and Rita Works as a Republican in Cotton Township.
Robert Richards has filed as a Republican for Pleasant I precinct committeeman; Johnny Andrew has filed as a Republican for Jefferson II precinct committeeman; Don Covington has filed as a Democrat for Cotton I precinct committeeman; Joan Armstrong has filed as a Democrat for Posey II precinct committeeman; Jill Hutcherson has filed as a Republican for Posey II precinct committeeman; David Reed has filed as a Republican for Cotton II precinct committeeman; Joe Spiller has filed as a Democrat for Craig II precinct committeeman; Deborah Stewart has filed as a Republican for York I precinct committeeman; and Russell VonBargen has filed as a Republican for Craig II precinct committeeman;.
Judge Ted Todd has filed for reelection as a Democrat to his post as Judge of the Circuit Court; and Stephen Tesmer has filed for Judge of the Circuit Court as a Republican.
There will be a three-way race in the Democratic primary for the office of prosecuting attorney of the 5th Judicial Circuit; where Chad Lewis, Jason Pattison, and Kristen Vandewater have all filed.
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar has also filed for reelection as a Republican.
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Candidates wanting to participate in the Primary Election have until noon on Friday, February 17th to file.
Headlining the offices up for election this year is County Sheriff; and county offices up for election include County Auditor, County Assessor, and County Clerk of Courts.
The County Commissioner’s seat in the third district is up for election; and for the County Council, the election of 2006 sees the four seats up for election that represent each of the county’s four Districts.
Trustee offices up for election this year include: Cotton Township; Craig Township; Jefferson Township; Pleasant Township; Posey Township; and York Township. Advisory boards for all of the Township Trustees will also be elected in 2006.
In one change, the Switzerland County School Board will hold its election during the November General Election. School board seats have been elected during the primary in the past, but the school board chose to move to the fall because of the increased voter turnout.
There will be three seats up for election in November: the Craig Township seat currently held by Jack Ranz; the Jefferson Township seat currently held by Andy Truitt; and the Posey Township seat currently held by Laurice See.
Those members elected will begin four year terms in January of 2007.
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Ginger Peters also said that there are some changes in the county for this year.
Voters in Craig I precinct will now vote at the Switzerland County 4-H Community Building.
One big change is that those who want to vote will be required to show a photo ID that has been issued by the U.S. Government before being allowed to vote. These IDs include a driver’s license; a passport; or a military ID.
Those having questions about this policy should contact the clerk’s office at 427-3175.
Applications for those wanting to vote by absentee ballot will begin on February 1st; and those wanting to register to vote should contact the clerk’s office.
Voter registration will end on Monday, April 3rd.
“Anyone who has moved or changed their name needs to come into the clerk’s office and update their registration,” Clerk Peters said.