Dunkirk features four races
City has contested primaries for Republican and Democrat nominations for mayor
Dunkirk features four races
Dunkirk residents will have options when they head to the polls in May.
Of the seven contested races now finalized for Jay County’s municipal elections this year, four are in Dunkirk.
Filing ended at noon Friday.
The ballot will be highlighted by three races for mayoral nominations, with Dunkirk featuring multiple candidates for both parties.
On the Republican side of the ballot, incumbent Gene Ritter is seeking re-election and facing a challenge from retired manufacturing manager Tom Crouch. On the Democrat side, city council member Jack Robbins, a retired laborer, and Sandy Lawhorn, who is retired from Ardagh glass factory, are vying for the nomination.
Dunkirk has not re-elected a mayor since Republican Grant Fager was unopposed in 1991.
Portland Democrats will also have a choice on their ballot for mayor. Incumbent Randy Geesaman will be seeking his third term and is being challenged by Portland police officer Bart Darby.
John Boggs, general manager of WPGW radio, was the lone Republican to file for the position and will be unopposed in the primary.
Beyond the mayoral races in Dunkirk, Democrat voters will have options for two other offices.
Incumbent Tina Elliott is seeking her first elected term in office after being appointed clerk-treasurer after Phonnie Kesler’s resignation following the 2015 election. Kelly Watson, who works in the Jay County auditor’s office, is challenging her for the party’s nomination for that position. No Republicans filed to run for the job.
For the at-large seat on Dunkirk City Council, incumbent Tom Johnson is facing a challenge from Ron Hunt. Both men are former mayors. Republican Richard Buckner is unopposed for his party’s nomination for the seat.
Other than mayor of Portland, the only contested race in the city in the primary will be for the District 3 seat on council.
Incumbent Michele Brewster, who filed Friday, is facing a challenge from Steve McIntosh.
And after a flurry of filings in the final 24 hours, Redkey Republicans will have a contested race for nominations for town council. Seeking the office are Gary Gardner, who filed Friday, incumbent Dave Dudelston, Pilot Bechtol and John Pierce. Because there are three at-large seats up for election this year, the lowest vote-getter among those candidates will be eliminated with the remaining trio to advance to the general election.
Incumbent council members Doug Stanley and Ted Friddle chose not to seek re-election.
Redkey also has three candidates — “Watermellon” Jim Phillips, Erik Hammers and Nathan Cole — for town council on the Democrat ticket. All three will advance to the general election.
Two Democrats, Dave Golden and Tyler Newell, filed to run for Portland City Council’s at-large seats. With two such seats up this year, both will advance to the general election. Incumbent Republican Janet Powers is unopposed in her party’s primary, and incumbet Democrat Judy Aker chose not to seek another term.
The following candidates will be running unopposed in the primary:
Republicans — Donald Gillespie for Portland City Court Judge; Matt Goldsworthy for Portland City Council District 1; Don Gillespie for Portland City Council District 4; Kent McClung for Portland City Council District 5; Kevin Hamilton for Dunkirk City Council District 1; Bryan Jessup for Dunkirk City Council District 2; Jesse Bivens for Dunkirk City Council District 3; and Krista Scholer for Pennville clerk-treasurer.
Democrats — Lori Aker Ferguson for Portland clerk-treasurer; Dave Cramer for Portland City Council District 1; Judy Hedges for Portland City Council District 2; Lisa Street for Dunkirk City Council District 4; Debbie James for Redkey clerk-treasurer; and Donald Shauver for Salamonia Town Board.
After the primary, parties will have until June 30 to fill any open positions on the ballot for the general election.
Chip Phillips, an independent, has filed to run as an independent for the District 3 seat on Dunkirk City Council. Independents do not appear on the primary ballot.
