Culp, Greene win GOP nominations for Morgan County Council seats

Residents from every corner of Morgan County went to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in the 2022 Indiana primary election.

According to the Morgan County Elections Office, there were 7,855 registered voters who showed up to the polls in this year's election.

Related: 2022 Morgan County Primary Election results.

With 52,072 voters, this accounts for about 15% voter turnout.

Of the votes which were cast, 295 were cast as paper absentee ballots, 2,550 were cast as walk-in absentee and 5,010 people arrived to the vote centers Tuesday.

Morgan County Council

In Tuesday's election, the nominations for four seats on the Morgan County Council were up for a vote.

Chip Keller and Troy Sprinkle were each unopposed for Republican nominations to their current seats.

For the Morgan County Council District 3 race, which represents northern stretches of the county, Brian Culp received 923 votes to incumbent Kelly Alcala's 646.

Local news: Brickhouse Loft and Brickhouse on Main bring events, travelers to downtown Martinsville.

Culp thanked the voters who cast ballots for him during a phone conversation with the Reporter-Times Wednesday.

“I really appreciate all of the support,” Culp said. “There were a lot of people were encouraging to me, who helped me throughout this campaign.”

While Culp has not technically won the seat yet, he is already looking beyond the November general election.

“What it comes down to at the end of the day is, I have an entire district that I need to represent to county council,” Culp said. “The people who voted for me, and the people who voted against me, all deserve great representation so that we can move this county forward.”

Current Morgan County Councilwoman Melissa Greene won in her race for a spot on the general election ballot, receiving 965 votes to Laura Elliott's 855.

Other Morgan County races

Morgan County Commissioner Kenny Hale easily won his race for the GOP nomination for his current seat, receiving 4,715 votes to opponent Randy Mitchell's 1,926.

Tammy Parker also defeated Ann Miller for the Republican nomination for Morgan County Clerk.

More election news: Mooresville native Nan Whaley makes Ohio history as first woman nominated to run for governor.

Parker received 3,558 votes to Miller’s 3,038.

She said she’s been working on her campaign for more than a year.

“I appreciate all my supporters, all the people that helped me win — family and friends and a lot of people behind the scenes that really kind of gave me advice,” Parker said Wednesday morning. “I just want to think everyone that came out.”

Swinney narrowly beats Jones

Incumbent Greg Swinney edged out a win over his challenger, Dave Jones, to win the Republican Party nomination for Mooresville Town Council District 1.

Swinney earned 424 votes to Jones' 399 votes.

Swinney will face Democrat Kimberly Schofield, who ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary, in the November general election.

Town council: Mooresville addressing issues at wastewater treatment plant.

Mooresville resident Les (Toonz) Duncan, a local business owner who was removed from the GOP Ballot for the ward one race in February, has also expressed interest in running as an independent.

"I plan to do some more campaigning," Swinney said. "I appreciate everybody that's supported me. It's a big vote of confidence."

Swinney was selected by a caucus of Republican precinct committeemen in November 2020 to fill a vacancy on the council. He is looking to earn his first full term in office.

Brown earns decisive victory over Perry

Despite being a political newcomer, Josh Brown handily defeated his opponent, Virginia Perry, for the Republican Party nomination for Mooresville Town Council District 5.

Brown captured 556 votes to Perry's 342 votes, earning 62 percent of the overall vote.

Martinsville news: Mayor calls city's contribution to Morgan County GOP a 'clerical error'.

He credits his sound victory to his campaign strategy and strong support network.

"I did a lot of knocking on doors and talking to people," Brown said. "And I had a really good support system behind me."

Thus far, no one has filed to run as a Democrat in the District 5 race.

Peggy Mayfield wins House District 60

Martinsville resident Peggy Mayfield easily defeated challenger Brittany Carroll for the GOP nomination for the Indiana State House District 60 seat.

Mayfield has represented the area in the state legislature since 2012, and previously served as the Morgan County Clerk.

Craig Haggard wins House District 57

Craig Haggard, of Mooresville, earned a majority of votes in Hendricks, Johnson and Morgan counties to best his opponent, Melinda Griesemer, of Greenwood, for the Republican Party nomination for Indiana House District 57.

The newly redrawn district includes portions of Johnson and Hendricks County, as well as the town of Mooresville and Brown Township in Morgan County.

Haggard won 3,314 votes, or about 66 percent of the vote, compared with Griesemer's 1,658 votes.

Others are reading: Doug and Paula Molin ready to welcome all to Foxcliff Golf Club.

In Hendricks County, he captured 66 percent of the vote; in Morgan County, he earned 80 percent of all votes; and in Johnson County, he captured 56 percent of all votes.

"I spent every day going to something, moving the campaign forward in all three counties," Haggard told the Reporter-Times. "I think a lot of what I believed in resonated with a lot of folks, from my military service to the different experiences I had."

As it currently stands, Haggard will run opposed in the general election, but that could change if a Democrat decides to enter the race.

Roger Day wins Democratic congressional nomination

With newly redrawn congressional districts, all of Morgan County is now in Indiana's 4th Congressional District.

Roger Day defeated his opponent Howard Pollchik to become the Democrat's nominee in the general election.

More: Hoosier Que brings some new barbecue flavor to Foxcliff Golf Club in Morgan County.

Day will faceoff against Republican Jim Baird, who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination.

This year's general election will take place on Nov. 8.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Brian Culp beats Kelly Alcala, Melissa Greene defeats Laura Elliott