Three file for commissioner

All of a sudden, both Republican commissioners races are contested.

Three new candidates filed Thursday to run for Jay County Commissioner, creating contested races for both the north and south district seats. Adding their names to the ballot were Rex Journay, Barb Street and Duane Monroe.

Prior to Thursday’s flurry of filings, incumbent Mike Leonhard and Brian McGalliard were uncontested in their bids for the Republican nominations in the May primary. Now, both will be challenged.

Journay, a rural Bryant resident, is taking on Leonhard for the nomination for the commissioner seat representing the north district. He is making his first run for office, while Leonhard, rural Portland, is seeking his fourth term overall as a commissioner. (He served two terms from 1997 through 2004 and was elected again in 2016.)

The race for the Republican nomination for commissioner representing the south district now has three contenders. McGalliard, a Dunkirk resident who filed last week, will be up against Street and Monroe, both of rural Portland. Incumbent Republican Chuck Huffman of Dunkirk announced in December that he would not seek a second term.

The only other contested race for a county office as of about 10:30 a.m. today was for Jay Superior Court Judge. Incumbent Republican Max Ludy is facing a challenge from Gail Dues.

The filing deadline was noon today.

For a complete roundup of the primary ballot, see Saturday’s edition of The Commercial Review.