Barnett gets lone Democrat win (11/3/04)

It was a tough night to be a Democrat in Jay County.

Early cheers turned to silence at Democratic Party headquarters as the strong GOP tide became evident Tuesday night.

Local voters went Republican in all but one race for county office, while throwing their support behind President George W. Bush and gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels and ousting longtime Democratic incumbent state representative Ron Liggett.

By the end of the vote tally, only a handful of Democrats came away victors.

Mark Barnett, Democrat for county coroner, scored a close win in a contested race. Gary Theurer, incumbent Democratic commissioner from the south district, won another term in office without opposition. And Jay voters overwhelmingly favored incumbent Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh over his GOP challenger Marvin Scott.

The GOP list of winners was a long one: Faron Parr in the race for county commissioner from the north district; Marilyn Coleman, Judy LeMaster and Jim Zimmerman in the contest for three at-large seats on the Jay County Council; Jane Ann Runyon, without opposition for another term as county clerk; Frances Milthaler, without opposition for county treasurer; and Brad Daniels, without opposition for county surveyor.

Meanwhile, Jay voters strongly supported Republican Steve Carter over Democrat Joe Hogsett (4,643-3,174) in the race for attorney general, Republican Suellen Reed over Democrat Susan Williams (4,558-2,992) in the race for superintendent of public instruction, and Republican Mike Pence over Democrat Melina Fox (5,540-2,347) in the race for the Sixth District seat in Congress.

Bayh’s margin of victory over Scott was 5,177-2,845.

Finals in the county coroner’s race showed Barnett with 4,040, enough to eke out a victory over Paulette Wagner, who had 3,935.

“I’m glad it’s over,” said Barnett. “I’m still kind of in shock.”

In the contested county commissioner race, final results showed Parr with 4,473 to Jason Davidson’s 3,446.

“I’m very delighted and excited. I’m looking forward to it. I want to thank all the voters in Jay County for turning out and for a great election. It’s important to get people out to vote,” said Parr, who was among the GOP faithful who gathered at the Corner Cafe in Portland to await the results.

“(Losing the race) is starting to soak in,” said Davidson.

Asked if he would consider running again, he said, “I guess I’ll think about it ... (It’s) a lot of work.”

The six-way race for county council broke down this way: Winning were Coleman with 4,497, LeMaster with 4,072, and Zimmerman with 3,904. Longtime Councilman Andy Schemenaur had 3,548, Ted Champ had 3,132, and Lisa Barnett had 3,083.

“It makes for a good team,” said LeMaster.

“It was a nice night. Thanks to everybody that got out and voted. It really show the interest of the people in the community,” said Zimmerman.

“I’ve had (a position on the county council) a long time — in it for 16 years,” said Schemenaur. “The new people on the council will do a good job.”

“The voters have spoken,” Champ said.

Lisa Barnett, who ran for county council while her husband ran for coroner, said she had been told they were the first husband and wife to seek local office in the same election. “Maybe we made a little history,” she said.[[In-content Ad]]