Rematch reversal

Jay County voters knew they would have one new commissioner in 2017.
At the polls Tuesday, they decided they wanted two.
Former commissioner and current county council president Mike Leonhard ousted three-term incumbent Faron Parr in the primary election that was a rematch from 12 years earlier.
It was one of three tight commissioner races, with the other two coming in the south district. Democrat Ted Champ fought off James Brewster by just 22 votes while Chuck Huffman earned 53.9 percent of the vote to top Wayne Bailey on the GOP ticket.
Contests for Jay Circuit Court clerk and county coroner were both over early, with respective winners Jon Eads earning 62 percent of the vote and Michael Brewster picking up 56 percent in a three-man race.
The election included a strong turnout from early voters, with about 26 percent of Jay County’s ballots cast in advance of Election Day.
There was little emotion or reaction from any of the candidates in the room at a gathering of local Republicans at John Jay Center in Portland. Leonhard simply grinned while shaking hands with some well-wishers as it became apparent he would walk away with the victory over Parr.
“It’s a good win, and it sounds to me like the west side of the county came in and pulled through,” said Leonhard, who spent the early part of the evening collecting campaign signs before arriving at John Jay Center. “I was really worried there … and pretty soon I heard Redkey come in.”
He went on to thank all of the county’s voters, saying he hopes he can live up to their expectations. Leonhard will face Robert Franks Jr., who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, in November.
It was the southwest corner of the county that carried Leonhard to victory in a tight race that saw him win 10 precincts to Parr’s eight. Most of the precincts were relatively close, but Leonhard racked up 65.3 percent of the vote in Jefferson Township and cleared the 60-percent mark in Redkey and both Dunkirk precincts.
Parr, meanwhile, topped out at 54.7 percent of the vote in his win in Wayne 4.
That led to a reversal of fortunes from the last time the GOP rivals met in 2004, when Leonhard, then a two-term incumbent, lost to Parr in the primary by 34 votes.
Trailing by nearly 200 votes with just a couple of precincts remaining to report Tuesday night, Parr strolled across the room first to talk with Jay County Republican chairman and former commissioner Milo Miller Jr. and then to shake hands with Leonhard.
“I think the voters have spoken,” said Parr. “It’s an election, and that’s why we have them. I think everybody is ready for a change, and that’s the way everybody voted.
“I gave Jay County my best and I hope for the best. And I’ll continue to be here, live here and work here. It’s still my home, and I wish Jay County only the best.”
Parr said he wouldn’t rule out another run for office, and said in the meantime he plans to remain involved in the community in other ways.
The race between Champ and Brewster was the closest of the night, with Brewster looking strong early as he took the first eight precincts announced. But, like Leonhard, it was a strong showing in the southwest corner of the county that carried Champ to victory.
The county councilman dominated his home district — Redkey — by a 143-53 margin. He won fewer than half the precincts, but hit the 70-percent mark in Jefferson and Knox townships in addition to Redkey and was at 65 percent in both Dunkirk precincts.
“I’m just glad I won,” said Champ this morning, adding that he felt it would be a close race. “I look forward to the fall.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried after the first five or six (precincts). Redkey, the people that know me the best, put me back in the race, and then from there I was able to increase a little bit.”
Brewster, who spent the night coaching his daughter’s softball team, was gracious despite the close defeat.
“I would like to thank everyone that voted for me today,” he said. “Although the result wasn't in my favor I am pleased with the close vote count and wish Ted the best of luck in the general election.”
Huffman’s margin of victory in the GOP race for the south district nomination was by just a few points more than the other commissioner bouts — 53.9 percent to 46.1 percent — but he was in control throughout the evening. He won the first three precincts announced at the Republican gathering and maintained an advantage throughout the night.
Like Champ, he was especially strong at home, winning the Dunkirk precincts by a combined 242-73.
“It feels good,” said Huffman. “It’s always a little humbling, I think. … This is new to me, so this is my first primary election. I’m just glad to get over the hump and look forward to the fall. I know that will be a tough race with Ted Champ.”
Bailey expressed admiration for his opponent, saying he enjoyed his first foray into the political process and would consider running again.
“If I don’t win, I’d just as soon lose to Chuck as anyone,” he said. “I’ve known him a long, long time. He and I have good history.”
In an election that saw county-wide voter turnout at 44.9 percent — 5,589 of a possible 12,460 registered voters — neither the race for Jay Circuit Court clerk or county coroner was ever close.
Eads, an assistant manager at Arby’s in Portland, swept his way to victory for the Republican nomination for clerk, winning every precinct. He earned 61.5 percent of the vote to Jo Newman’s 38.6 and will advance to the general election.
There were no Democrats in the primary for clerk, and they will now have until June 30 to file to run in the general election.
Michael Brewster also cruised to victory in the three-way race for county coroner, easily unseating the incumbent. He picked up 56.5 percent of the vote to 29.2 percent for Jason White, who is in the final year of his first term in office. Jeff Hopkins was a distant third at 14.4 percent.
He advances to take on Democrat Curt Compton, who was uncontested Tuesday, in the November general election.