Who is on the ballot in Monroe County, Indiana, for the 2022 November General Election

Jill Bond, The Herald-Times
·6 min read

With early voting set to open Wednesday, The Herald-Times has compiled a list of who is running. As candidates respond to questions about their plans for office, we will add links to help you prepare to fill out your ballot.

"I Voted Today!" stickers at the vote center for Bloomington precincts 3, 7, and 22 as well as Perry precincts 6, 8, 15 and 31 on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
"I Voted Today!" stickers at the vote center for Bloomington precincts 3, 7, and 22 as well as Perry precincts 6, 8, 15 and 31 on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

State representative District 62

District 62 has no incumbent after outgoing state Rep. Jeff Ellington decided to move to Greene County to challenge Bruce Borders in the primary. Indiana's once-a-decade redistricting process moved the district boundaries, which now encompasses southern Monroe County, including most of the Bloomington suburban area and Lake Monroe, Brown County and a small portion of northwest Jackson County.

Democratic nominee for District 62 Penny Githens speaks to attendees at the Democratic watch party at The Mill on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
Democratic nominee for District 62 Penny Githens speaks to attendees at the Democratic watch party at The Mill on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

On the Democratic ticket is Penny Githens, who has served as a Monroe County commissioner since 2019 when she was selected to fill a vacancy. She was re-elected in 2020. Her professional work has centered around education and public policy. Githens' seat on the Monroe County board of commissioners is not up for election and she would retain her seat if voters choose not to send her to the Statehouse.

Dave Hall is the Republican candidate for Indiana House District 62.
Dave Hall is the Republican candidate for Indiana House District 62.

Republican Dave Hall defeated a primary challenger in May. He is a crop insurance agent and farmer in western Jackson County, currently serving a second term on the Jackson County Council after previously serving on a township advisory board.

Related:Housing, health care, water quality key issues for District 62 Statehouse candidates

State representative District 46

Bob Heaton is the Republican incumbent in District 46, representing western Monroe County including Ellettsville, and portions of Owen, Clay and Vigo counties. Heaton has served in the Statehouse since 2010 and is currently the majority whip and chair of the higher education ways and means subcommittee. He is president of Heaton Financial Services in Terre Haute.

Kurtis Cummings is a political newcomer. A former firefighter, Cummings is co-owner of Switchyard Brewing in Bloomington. He is a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for Monroe County's court system.

More:Priorities for Indiana House District 46: Education funding and listening to voters

State representative Districts 60, 61

Most voters in the city of Bloomington will see Matt Pierce on their ballots. Pierce is running uncontested. Pierce has represented District 61 since 2002 and is the ranking minority member of the Indiana House utilities, energy and telecommunications committee.

Voters in the northern part of Monroe County will choose between Republican incumbent Peggy Mayfield and Democratic challenger Kathy Thorpe. Peggy Mayfield has represented district 60 since 2012. She is currently vice chair of the public policy committee. Kathy Thorpe is a retired nurse who worked with Planned Parenthood and is a Morgan County resident.

Monroe County judge posts

A retirement from the bench sparked the interest of several candidates seeking the division VII judgeship. Four candidates sought the Democratic nomination and Emily Salzmann won the right to be on the ballot in November. Voters will have another choice, Republican Carl Lamb. Salzmann is a graduate of IU Maurer School of Law, a partner in Salzmann Law LLC, has served as judge pro tempore numerous times and has held leadership roles with the Monroe County Bar Association. Lamb is a local attorney with a practice, Carl Lamb and Associates, a Marine Corps veteran, a graduate of the IU's law school and has worked as the Monroe County attorney.

Monroe Circuit Court 7 Judge candiate Emily Salzmann reacts to her lead as the vote totals are shown at the Democratic watch party at The Mill on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
Monroe Circuit Court 7 Judge candiate Emily Salzmann reacts to her lead as the vote totals are shown at the Democratic watch party at The Mill on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
Carl Lamb
Carl Lamb

Other judges up for re-election running unopposed are Mary Ellen Diekhoff and Holly Harvey.

Monroe County commissioner, District 1

Monroe County Commissioner Lee Jones is being challenged for her seat on the board by Republican candidate Perry Robinson. Jones and her husband operate Stranger's Hill Organic farm. She has served on the board of commissioners since 2018 and previously served on the Monroe County Council. Robinson is an union-represented electrician and serves on the Van Buren water board.

Related:Affordable housing, annexation top of mind for Monroe County commissioner candidates

Monroe County Council District 1

Peter Iverson has been a member of the Monroe County Council since 2019, when the Monroe County Democratic caucus chose him to fill the seat vacated by Shelli Yoder. Iverson earned a master's degree from the Indiana University O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and has held several leadership roles within the local Democratic Party. He is challenged by Republican James "Jim" Allen. Allen is a retired Bloomington Township Fire Department firefighter who ran for an at-large seat on the council in 2020.

Other members of the Monroe County Council up for re-election who are running unopposed are Marty Hawk, Kate Wiltz and Jennifer Crossley.

Monroe County sheriff

With current Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain term-limited, the field of candidates for the Democratic ticket in the primary was healthy. Voters will choose between the victor of that contest, Ruben Martė, and Republican candidate Nathan Williamson. Martė is a captain with the Indiana State Police who serves as ISP's first equity and inclusion officer. Williamson is a sergeant with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office who oversees training and the dive team's search and rescue operations.

Related:From a new jail to diversity, what are the Monroe County sheriff candidates' priorities?

Monroe County recorder

Amy Swain, wife of outgoing Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain, won the Democratic primary by just 40 votes and will face Republican Paul White Sr. in November. Swain was previously a board member for Indian Creek Township and currently serves as its clerk. She also worked as a records archivist for the city of Bloomington in 2015. Paul White Sr. is a former cartographic technician with the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management. He also volunteers as a coach for Special Olympics, drives a bus for Rural Transit, and is highly involved with his church, First Nazarene.

Other Monroe County offices

Other county-level positions on the ballot are unopposed. The candidates and offices are: Judith Sharp, assessor; Nicole Browne, clerk; Erika Oliphant, prosecutor.

MCCSC and R-BB school boards

Voters have choices to make for who will help direct the future of Monroe County's two school districts. Three candidates are seeking the Monroe County Community School Corp. District 1 seat: Erin Wyatt, Tabetha Crouch and Byron Turner. Three candidates also are vying for the MCCSC District 3 seat: Jon D. Hayes, Daniel O'Neill and Ashley Pirani. The contested seat on the Richland-Bean Blossom school board represents the Richland District. Voters will choose between Karl Boehm and Dana Kerr.

More:Here's what MCCSC, R-BB school board candidates say about buses, enrollment and more

Running unopposed for the MCCSC board is Brandon Shurr, District 7. Running unopposed for the R-BB board is Angela Jacobs, Bean Blossom district.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Who is on the ballot in Monroe County, Indiana, general election