Late filings scramble primaries

The race for the lone commissioner seat up for election got deeper just before filing closed.

Two new candidates — one who had previously filed for a different office and another whose relative was already seeking the seat — jumped in to run for Jay County Commissioner of the middle district before filing closed at noon Friday.

Also, a second Democrat filed to run for her party’s nomination for District 33 state representative, giving Jay County voters contested races on both sides of the ticket.

Caleb Lutes and Brian Aker jumped into the Jay County Commissioner fray in the final four hours before the filing deadline.

Lutes, who had previously filed to run against Faron Parr for the Jay County Council district three seat, withdrew his candidacy for that position and instead filed to run for commissioner. He joins incumbent Barry Hudson and Chad Aker in a three-way race for the Republican nomination.

Meanwhile, Brian Aker became the lone Democrat to file for his party’s nomination for commissioner, setting up a potential general election showdown with his cousin (Chad).

Hudson has been a commissioner since May, when a Republican caucus selected him from a field of six candidates following the resignation of Doug Inman. (That group included Brian Aker, who finished second, and Lutes, who was fourth in the voting.)

Both parties will have contested primary elections for the District 33 state representative seat being vacated by Republican incumbent Greg Beumer.

Cheryl Ashley-Robbins, a Democrat, filed Thursday to seek the Democrats’ nomination for the seat. The Winchester resident will square off against Winchester Mayor Shon Byrum.

The Republican side of the ballot will feature a race between Jenae Horn-Blasdel, Jay County’s Republican chair, and rural Union City farmer J.D. Prescott.

Incumbent state Sen. Travis Holdman, a Republican, is facing a primary challenge from Eric Orr of Berne. Orr is currently a member of Adams County Council.

There will be three other contested races on the Republican side for county-wide offices, including incumbent Sheriff Dwane Ford against former sheriff Ray Newton. Ford, a former conservation officer, will be seeking a second term while Newton tries to reclaim the office he held from 2007 through 2015.

Two Republicans, Amy Runyon Barrett and Harold Towell, both of rural Portland, are running for the district two seat on Jay County Council. That position is being vacated by Republican Bob Vance, who chose not to run for another term.

And Robin Alberson, rural Portland, and Cherrie Geesaman, rural Pennville, are vying to become the next Jay County assessor. Diana Stults decided not to seek re-election to that position.

There is a deep field of Democratic candidates vying to earn two spots on the general election ballot for Redkey Town Council. That list includes incumbent Charles “Red” Coons, Nathan Cole, Terri Taylor and “Watermellon” Jim Phillips. Republican Randy May is uncontested on the Republican side for Redkey Town Council. (The other seat that is up for re-election this year is held by independent Mike Wright.)

One Republican (Alicia Corwin) and one Democrat (Millie Ellis) are running for their party’s nomination for Pennville Town Board.

Running uncontested for county-wide seats on the Republican side of the ballot are: incumbent Anna Culy (auditor), incumbent Betty St. Myers (recorder), incumbent Brian Hutchison (Jay Circuit Court judge), Parr (county council district three), Mike Rockwell (county council district four).

Jay County prosecutor Wes Schemenaur is uncontested for the Democratic nomination as he seeks a third term, and Democrat Ted Champ also is without opposition in the primary as he seeks to retain his seat on Jay County Council.

The Democratic ticket has two contested races for township trustee positions with James Isenhart taking on Nancy Cline in Greene and Crystal Laux facing off with Katina Miller in Bearcreek. Uncontested for township trustee are Republicans James Brewster (Wayne), Michael Armstrong (Penn), Virginia Cline (Noble), Rex Pinkerton (Jackson), Ronald Rosenbeck (Wabash), Joseph Gutshall (Knox) and Scott Hilfiker (Madison), and Democrats David Champ (Richland) and Bob Lyons (Pike).

Republican candidates for township advisory boards are as follows: Arthur Harris (Pike); Matt Caster, Terry Rigby and Richard Houser (Jackson); Sarah Davidson, Jane Martin and Beverly Westgerdes (Wabash); Joella Rinker (Knox); Jeff Overholser, Eldon Campbell and Emily Daugherty (Noble); and Greg Shreeve and Patty Starr (Madison).

Democrat candidates for township advisory boards are as follows: Billy Sipe and Phil Cowan (Pike); Richard Nixon (Jefferson); Douglas Geesaman (Penn); Robert Bailey, Rodney Cassel and Don Whitenack (Greene); Bob Ford, Joe Lloyd and Gary Glogas (Richland); Dennis Rodgers (Knox); and Kari Tressler and Jim Haffner (Bearcreek).

Seeking precinct committeeman positions are Democrats Pam Bunch (Dunkirk 3), Brett Darby (Wayne 1), Bart Darby (Wayne 2), Nancy Cline (Greene), Kyle Champ (Redkey), Fred Bailey (Wayne 7) and James Brewster (Pike).

Ilze Koch is running for Republican Convention delegate.