Local races few in upcoming general election

Amanda York, Evening World
·4 min read
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Although midterm election races will be contentious nationwide, local races are few in Owen County.

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The race for Owen County Commissioner, District 1 will be up one of the seats up for grabs. This race features Democrat candidate Sandra Wood and Libertarian candidate Chad Vanryn take on Republican incumbent Gary Burton.

Also at the county level, two of the four County Council seats are contested. In District 2, incumbent Anton K. Neff (D) will face challenger Gary DuBois (R) and in District 4, incumbent Verl Keith (R) will face Libertarian challenger Rachel Combs.

Only two of the township trustee races are opposed. Janet (Gandy) Paris (D) will take on Barron Eugene Barnett (R) for Jackson Township trustee and E. Thomasina Marsili (D) will face M. Sue Carpenter (R) for Montgomery Township trustee.

Only one township board race is opposed. Washington Township features five candidates and only three can be elected. Candidates include Angie Bault (D), George Brinson (D), Daniel L. Melton (R), Suzanne Simmerman (R) and Marilyn Truesdel (R).

In the Cloverdale School Board races, Aragon Gould will face Vivian Whitaker and Emily A. Haltom will take on Carol A. Pennington. Local Spencer-Owen school board candidates are running unopposed in their districts and include Mark E. Rogers (District 2), Elizabeth C. Bixler (District 3) and Dave Allen (District 5).

At the state level, incumbent Bob Heaton (R) is squaring off with challenger Kurtis J. Cummings (D) for State Representative. Eric Bassler is running unopposed for State Senator.

In the state treasurer race, Jessica McClellan (D) is facing Daniel Elliott (R) in the general election. The race for state auditor will feature ZeNai Brooks (D), Tera K. Klutz (R) and John Andrew Schick (L). The final state race on the local ballot will be for Secretary of State and will have five candidates. Democrat Destiny Wells will go up against Republican Diego Morales, Libertarian Jeffrey Maurer, and write in candidates Andrew Straw (Disability), and David Wetterer (Green).

There are two national races on the ballot. In the election to represent Indiana's 8th district as the US Representative, incumbent Larry D. Buschon (R) will face Ray McCormick (D) and Andrew Horning (L).

The office of US Senator will be incumbent Todd Young (R) against Thomas M. McDerott, Jr. (D), James M. Sceniak (L) and several write-in candidates including Thomas Baer (Independent), Phillip Beachy (I), Haneefah Khaaliq (I), David G. Stoner (I), Danny Niederberger (Other) and Antonio Xavier Alvarez (Political Synergy).

Numerous candidates are running unopposed for their local offices including Donald R. VanDerMoere II (R) for prosecutor, Diane Stutsman (R) for clerk, Loretta Foster (R) for recorder, Shelly Townsend (R) for treasurer, Ryan White (R) for Owen County Sheriff, Amy Meier (R) for surveyor, Dusty White (R) for assessor, Nick Robertson (R) for county council district 1, and Steve Carrell (R) for county council district 3. Angela D. Wood-Frank is running unopposed on the ballot for Owen County Coroner, but her recent resignation has called that race into question

Several candidates for township trustee are also running unopposed and they include Debbie Keith (R), Clay Twp.; Leroy O. Gentry (R), Franklin Twp.; Robert (Bob) Janke (R), Harrison Twp.; Kayla Persinger (R), Jefferson Twp.; Judy A. Sebastian (R), Lafayette Twp.; James Elliott (D), Marion Twp.; Dave G. Davies (R), Morgan Twp.; Mark A. McCammon (R), Taylor Twp.; and Patty Edwards (R), Washington Twp.

The election will take place on Tuesday, November 8 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at any vote center location. Vote centers are located at Faith Baptist Church (11612 State Hwy 243, Cloverdale); Millgrove United Methodist Church (11151 Millgrove Rd, Quincy); Lighthouse Fellowship Church (5392 State Hwy 67, Gosport); Clay Twp Fire Dept. (5663 St Hwy 43, Spencer); Freedom Community Center (5552 (Freedom Arney Rd, Freedom); Jefferson Baptist Church (4019 Main St, Coal City); Garrard Chapel Church (7410 W. State Rd 46, Bowling Green); and Spencer Nazarene Church, 126 E. Market St, Spencer).

There will be absentee or early voting at the courthouse, beginning 28 days before election day, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., on the Monday before election day, from 8 a.m. until noon, and two Saturdays before election day, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Those dates have not been set at this time.

Any questions can be directed to the Owen County Clerk's Office at 812-829-5015 or the Owen County Voter Registration Office at 812-829-5028.

This article originally appeared on Evening World: Local races few in upcoming general election