Incumbents in

One incumbent commissioner had already announced his intention not to seek another term in office.

The other wasted no time signing up for another round.

Jay County Commissioner Mike Leonhard, a Republican who represents the north district, was among the first to fill out paperwork to run for office when election filing opened this morning.

The list of those who signed up in the first couple of hours of filing this morning was made up mostly of incumbents. Leonhard fell in line behind Republican incumbents Jay County surveyor Brad Daniels, Jay County clerk John Eads and Jay County treasurer Paula Miller.

Other incumbents filing to run early today were Jay Superior Court Judge Max Ludy and Jay County Council members Cindy Newton and Jeanne Houchins, all Republicans.

The lone newcomer to file is not really a newcomer at all, as former sheriff Larry Newton, Cindy’s husband, also filed to run for the Republican nomination for one of three county council at-large seats available. (The other council incumbent whose seat is up for re-election this year is Democrat Gary Theurer.)

Leonhard returned as commissioner after knocking off three-term incumbent Faron Parr in the 2016 primary. He then cruised to victory over Democrat Robert Franks Jr. in the general election, winning all 18 precincts.

He served two previous terms as commissioner from 1997 through 2004 — he then lost to Parr in the 2004 primary — and then three terms on Jay County Council before being elected as a commissioner again.

Chuck Huffman, who represents the south district, announced at the Dec. 23 commissioners meeting that he would not be seeking a second term. Huffman, who currently serves as president of commissioners, is beginning the final year of his first term in office after defeating Democrat Ted Champ in the 2016 general election.

Offices up for election this year include commissioners for the north district and south district, three Jay County Council at-large seats, three school board seats and county clerk, coroner, surveyor and treasurer.

Filing for the Republican and Democrat primary elections began today and runs through noon Feb. 7. Because school board seats are non-partisan, filing for those positions runs from July 22 through Aug. 21.