First Republican files in 33

A Republican has filed to run for the District 33 Indiana House of Representative seat being vacated by Greg Beumer.

John “J.D.” Prescott of rural Union City filed Tuesday to run for the GOP nomination for the seat. Beumer announced in November that he would not be seeking re-election.

Also Tuesday, a new candidate filed to run for Pennville Town Board

Prescott becomes the second candidate overall to file in District 33, joining Democrat Shon Byrum of Winchester. Born in Winchester, he graduated from Winchester Community High School and then went to work on the Prescott family farm.

Byrum is making his second run for the Statehouse after losing to Beumer in the 2014 general election. He is currently the mayor of Winchester.

There remain two candidates for Indiana’s District 19 Senate seat that represents Jay County. Republican incumbent Travis Holdman (R-Markle), who has served in the Senate since 2010, is facing a primary challenge from Eric Orr of Berne.

Contested races in countywide elections, all on the Republican side, so far are incumbent Dwane Ford against Ray Newton for sheriff, incumbent Faron Parr against Caleb Lutes for Jay County Council’s District 3 seat and Robin Alberson against Cherrie Geesaman for assessor.

Alicia Corwin has filed to run for Pennville Town Board in the north district. The only other candidate currently slated to run for Pennville Town Board is Millie Ellis, who is in the south district.