Mayor races top primary

Editor’s note: Stories about race for mayor and city council in Portland, town council in Redkey and the new electronic check-in system are available on The Commercial Review’s website. To view them, visit http://www.thecr.com and click “Election.”
Local voters will head to the polls Tuesday with just four contested races on the ballot. Two of them will help decide the future leader of Portland.
While sparse on choices overall, the ballot offers Portland voters options in both parties in the mayoral race as incumbent Democrat Randy Geesaman faces a challenge from Jeff Harker while Doug Blankenbaker and Milo Miller Jr. square off for the Republican bid.
The only other contested races on the ballot are for the District 3 city council seat in Portland and three at-large town council seats in Redkey.
The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Geesaman is seeking his second term as mayor of Portland after defeating Republican incumbent Bruce Hosier in the 2011 general election. He had previously served as clerk-treasurer after his party selected him to replace Linda Kennedy following her retirement.
Harker led Portland’s street and parks department for nine years before Geesaman replaced him with current superintendent Ryan Myers. He was also a police officer in the city for 23 years, including two as chief.
Miller is seeking a return to elected office after spending nearly 35 years in county government. He was a county commissioner for 24 years before losing to Doug Inman in last year’s Republican primary and also served for 10 years as a member of county council.
Blankenbaker works at Portland’s wastewater treatment plant and has been a city employee for three decades. He served 21 years as a firefighter, including 10 as chief, and worked in the street and parks department for nine years.
Tuesday’s winners will face off in the general election in November.
Portland’s other contested race is on the Republican ballot for city council with Mark Iliff and Michele Brewster seeking the District 3 seat. It currently is held by Michele’s husband, Michael Brewster, and no Democrats have filed to run.
Four Democrats are seeking three slots on the November ballot for Redkey Town Council, with incumbents Ted Friddle and Greg Curme seeking to earn another term. Former council members Doug Stanley and “Watermellon” Jim Phillips are seeking to return to council.
The other incumbent, council president Kyle Champ, chose not to run for re-election after leading the voting in 2011.
David Dudelston, who lost a bid for re-election in November, is the only current Republican candidate for council.
Other candidates who are uncontested are:
REPUBLICAN
Portland clerk-treasurer
Michele (Mickey) Scott

Portland City Court Judge
Donald Gillespie

Portland City Council
District 1
Bill Gibson

Portland City Council
District 4
Don Gillespie

Portland City Council
District 5
Kent McClung
Portland City Council
At-large
Janet Powers

Dunkirk Mayor
Gene Ritter

Dunkirk City Court Judge
Tommy (Chip) Phillips II

Dunkirk City Council
District 3
Jesse Bivens
Salamonia Town Board
Perry Jones

Pennville clerk-treasurer
Krista M. Scholer

DEMOCRAT
Dunkirk Mayor
Dan Watson

Dunkirk City Council
District 1
Jack Robbins
Dunkirk City Council
District 4
Lisa Street

Dunkirk City Council
At-large
Tom Johnson

Dunkirk clerk-treasurer
Phonnie Kesler

Redkey clerk-treasurer
Debbie James

Salamonia Town Board
Donald M. Shauver


Portland City Council
District 2
Mark Hedges

Portland City Council
At-large
Judy Aker