Late flurry

When election filing opened Jan. 8, eight candidates turned in paperwork to run for county offices.
In the last 24 hours of filing, six more joined them.
Filings were few and far between with the exception of the opening and closing days, but the late flurry created contested races for Republican nominations for both commissioner seats, county council and county surveyor.
There are no contested races on the Democrat ballot at the county level.
The pair of commissioners races highlight the local list.
In the north district, incumbent Mike Leonhard of rural Portland is facing a challenge from rural Bryant resident Rex Journay. Leonhard is seeking his fourth term — he served from 1997 through 2004 and was elected again in 2016 — while Journay is making his first run for office.
With incumbent commissioner Chuck Huffman announcing in December that he would not seek re-election, there are now three candidates hoping to earn the GOP nomination to take over his south district seat. Brian McGalliard of Dunkirk filed last week, and he was joined in the race Thursday afternoon by rural Portland residents Duane Monroe and Barb Street.
Four Republicans are seeking nominations for three at-large seats on Jay County Council. The field includes incumbents Jeanne Houchins and Cindy Newton, former sheriff two-term Larry Newton, Cindy’s husband, and Matt Minnich, who serves on Jay County Plan Commission.
The other contested races at the county level pit incumbent Max Ludy versus Gail Dues for Jay Superior Court Judge and incumbent Brad Daniels against Jeff Hopkins for Jay County surveyor.
The only Democrats running for county-wide seats are former Portland City Council member Judy Aker, who filed Friday, and Josh Gibson for Jay County Council. Because there are three at-large seats available, both will advance to the general election.
Both parties offer contested races for the State Representative for District 33 and U.S. Representative Third District seat.
Incumbent Republican State Rep. J.D. Prescott, a Union City farmer, is facing a primary challenge from Jay County High School teacher Brittany Kloer.
Seeking the Democrat nomination for the seat are Delaware County residents Julie Snider, also a teacher, and Ryan Scott Davis.
For U.S. Representative, incumbent Republican Jim Banks will be up against Chris Magiera in the primary. The race for the Democrat nomination features four candidates — Chip Coldiron, JP Kalonji, Carlos Marcano Jr. and Tommy Schrader.
Republicans Ilze Koch, Amy Schlichter, Jon Eads, Carla Horn, Jenae Blasdel, Matt Goldsworthy, Lenny Muhlenkamp, Jared Blasdel and Chad Schlichter are running for six Republican state delegate positions.
Chad Schlichter and Amy Schlichter are also running for Penn precinct committeeman.
Uncontested candidates are Republicans Jon Eads (Jay Circuit Court clerk), Michael Brewster (coroner) and Paula Miller (treasurer), and Democrat Devon Smith (state delegate).
The following candidates are also running uncontested for Republican precinct committeeman: Melissa Elliott (Pike), Cindy Newton (Wayne 7), Michael Brewster (Wayne 3), Jeanne Houchins (Bearcreek), Carla Horn (Jackson), Lenny Muhlenkamp (Wabash), Matt Goldsworthy (Wayne 1), Chuck Huffman (Dunkirk 1) and Barry Hudson (Wayne 4).
Open slots on the ballot may be filled following the primary in May.