New faces

Jay County was guaranteed to have one new commissioner in 2021.

Make it two.

Rex Journay recorded a 232-vote victory Tuesday in his first run for office to unseat incumbent Jay County Commissioner Mike Leonhard in the Republican primary.

That guarantees two new commissioners, as Republican Chuck Huffman decided not to run for re-election this year and Brian McGalliard earning the nomination for his seat Tuesday.

Other local Republican races saw a big incumbent victory for longtime Jay County surveyor Brad Daniels, while incumbents Max Ludy (Jay Superior Court Judge) and Cindy Newton (Jay County Council) were ousted.

The race for Jay County Commissioner in the north district was never seriously in doubt as Journay built nearly a 100-vote lead in the first three precincts announced. Leonhard, who was seeking his fourth term as commissioner, ended up winning five of the remaining 15 precincts but none by more than 23 votes. That gave Journay a 1,685-1,355 victory over the incumbent.

“For the first time, it was exciting,” said Journay, who currently has no opponent for the general election in November. (Democrats will have the opportunity to fill the open spot on the ballot.) “I really want to thank all of the people that voted for me. I’ve got a lot to learn and we’ll see where we’re going from here.”

Leonhard, 72, has spent the bulk of the last 25 years in county government. He served two terms as commissioner from 1997 through 2004, then was on Jay County Council before being elected as commissioner again in 2016.

He congratulated Journay at Tuesday’s Republican gathering in the Bubp Building at Jay County Fairgrounds as soon as the final totals were announced. He later said he felt he had campaigned harder than in his 2016 race.

“The people spoke,” Leonhard said. “Maybe it’s time for a change.”

“I did it for the people of Jay County,” he added of his years in office. “And basically I wanted to see some changes made, and I think changes have been for the better. …

“It’s just really unique working with the people of Jay County. That’s the best part.”

While Journay had a solid lead early and held it, the races to replace Huffman as commissioner representing the south district and the four-way Republican battle for three nominations for Jay County Council were more fluid.

Brian McGalliard, after falling behind in the first two precincts reporting, came back with a strong performance in Portland and Dunkirk to win the three-way commissioner race. Matt Minnich, Ray Newton and Jeanne Houchins captured the three council slots, with Houchins holding off Cindy Newton.

With Greene, Pike and Jefferson precincts reporting first, Duane Monroe built a quick 192-125 over McGalliard with Barb Street in a distant third. But McGalliard rallied with by winning four of the five Wayne Township precincts (570-411) and then put the race away with a 169-52 advantage in Dunkirk.

“Running for office is an awesome experience,” said McGalliard, adding that owning a business in Portland (Pizza King) and living in Dunkirk likely helped him perform well in those areas. “It’s definitely different. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I made up my mind tonight if I got beat I was going to run for another office. It’s fun and very rewarding.”

In the end, McGalliard totaled 1,345 votes to Monroe’s 1,102, with Street coming in at 544.

Each of the four candidates for county council earned at least 22 percent of the vote. Minnich, who has served on Jay County Plan Commission, topped the field with 2,092 votes followed by Ray Newton, the former Jay County Sheriff, with 2,029.

“I’m humbled that the people of Jay County saw fit to give me a chance,” said Minnich.

The two incumbents — Houchins and Cindy Newton, Ray’s wife — were neck-and-neck early before Houchins gradually took control of the race for the third council nomination and went on to earn it with 1,878 votes to Newton’s 1,730.

Minnich, Houchins and Ray Newton advance to the November general election where they will take on Democrats Judy Aker and Josh Gibson, who were uncontested in Tuesday’s voting. Incumbent Democrat Gary Theurer did not run for another term.

Daniels easily won the Republican nomination for a seventh term as Jay County’s surveyor with 71 percent of the vote, 2,100-861 over Jeff Hopkins.

Dues dominated Ludy in the race for the GOP nomination for Jay Superior Court Judge, winning with 62 percent of the vote, 1,870-1,141. Ludy had not been contested in either of his previous two elections.

Amy Schlichter defeated her husband Chad 89-57 for Republican precinct committeeman in Penn Township. And Jon Eads, Carla Horn, Lenny Muhlenkamp, Jared Blasdel, Matt Goldsworthy and Jenae Blasdel were elected Republican state convention delegates ahead of Amy Schlichter, Chad Schlichter and Ilze Koch.

Uncontested in Tuesday’s primary and currently without opponents for county offices for the general election in the fall are clerk Jon Eads, coroner Michael Brewster and treasurer Paula Miller, all of whom are Republican incumbents.