Blasdel, Mann to lead parties

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Jay County’s Republicans and Democrats are each under new leadership.

At reorganization meetings Saturday morning, local Republicans elected Jenae Horn Blasdel as their new chair while Democrats chose Randy Mann. Both candidates were unopposed.

Blasdel, 30, studied agricultural economics at Purdue University and has served as campaign manager for Indiana Rep. Greg Beumer. She also previously worked at The Portland Foundation.

She hopes to lead the local party to continued success in elections, and plans to challenge Democrats in two major offices — Portland mayor and Jay County prosecutor.

“Young people in the party are definitely the ones leading right now,” Blasdel said. “Hopefully that brings in new ideas. We really want to continue to dominate local elections, and we really would like to get mayor’s seat back.”

Mann is a lifelong Jay County resident and a 1985 Jay County High School graduate who worked for the City of Portland for 15 years. He has run twice for county level offices, losing in the 2014 general election for commissioner and a previous run for county council.

He sees getting his local party organized as a key to strong performances in a county that leans Republican.

“What I want to do right off the bat is get our precinct committeeman filled,” Mann told the dozen in attendance following his election. “I think that’s going to be very important in the future …”

The Democrats currently have 10 of their 18 precinct committeeman positions unfilled.

Mann, who serves on the Jay County Regional Sewer District board, said he found those vacancies to be a major hurdle to try to overcome when he ran for county commissioner in 2014. Precinct committeemen are key to the campaigning process, he added.

In addition to challenging for key local offices, Blasdel would also like to encourage more candidates from Jay County to seek state offices. She also expects to keep the strong majority of elected positions that Republicans hold in the county.

“We’re a Republican county, let’s show it,” she said.

Mann hopes to develop a distinct identity for local Democrats that is separate from the national scene.

“I think the people in the community are upset with Washington, and I think that puts a bad image on our party,” he said. “I’m looking forward to trying to fill the seats that are vacant and trying to make our organization much better.”

Republicans stuck with youth when unanimously picking its new 23-year-old vice chair Aaron Loy. Michael Brewster was nominated and chosen to serve as secretary, and Jay County recorder Betty St. Myers was elected as treasurer over Jay County clerk Jon Eads.

Democrats Pam Bunch and Lori Ferguson were both unopposed as they were elected vice chair and secretary, respectively. Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman won the only contested vote among the the party as he was chosen as treasurer over Bart Darby.