Primary is Tuesday

Local Republicans will make their choices in four races Tuesday.

Contested races are slim for the municipal primary elections in Jay County, but they include four candidates vying for the GOP nomination for mayor of Portland and two trying for the nomination for mayor of Dunkirk.

Early voting is available again from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday. The polls — precincts Dunkirk 1 and Dunkirk 3 will vote at West Jay Community Center; Wayne 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 at Jay Community Center; and Penn at Pennville Community Center — will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The lone contested race in Portland is for the Republican nomination for mayor. Incumbent John Boggs, formerly general manager of WPGW radio faces three challengers — Joel Smitley, who is employed at McAfee Recycling, former Portland police investigator Todd Wickey and Portland police dispatcher Jeff Westlake.

The winner will advance to the general election to take on former two-term mayor Randy Geesaman, who is uncontested in his primary.

Dunkirk is the only municipality in the county with multiple contested races to be decided Tuesday.

Votes in the glass capital of Indiana will choose between rental property owner Alden Glessner, who had a career in commercial heating and cooling, and Jay Miller, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force and as a call enter manager, in the Republican primary for mayor. Incumbent Democrat Jack Robbins is uncontested.

The race for nomination for Dunkirk City Council’s District 1 seat pits incumbent Kevin Hamilton against Randy Murphy.

The only other contested race is for the GOP nomination for clerk-treasurer of Pennville between incumbent Krista Scholer and Lindsay Wright.

Primaries in Redkey, Bryant and Salamonia were canceled because there were no contested races.

Independent and minor party candidates have until June 30 to file a petition to be added to the general election ballot.

Democrats and Republicans will have until July 3 to fill vacancies on the ballot for November.

Uncontested candidates in Tuesday’s primary are:

Portland

Republicans — Incumbent Donald Gillespie for Portland City Court judge, Larry Nuckols and Ashley Hilfiker for city council at-large (two seats); Goldsworthy for city council District 1; incumbent Michele Brewster for city council District 3 and Ron May for city council District 4

Democrats — Incumbent Lori Aker-Phillips for clerk-treasurer; incumbent Dave Golden for city council at-large; Judy Aker for city council District 5

Mike Aker, an independent, filed to run for Portland City Council District 2. Independents do not appear on the primary ballot.



Dunkirk

Republicans — Dan Watson for city council at-large, Jacqueline Miller for city council District 2, incumbent Jesse Bivens for city council District 3 and incumbent Christy Curts for city council District 4

Democrats — Incumbent Jack Robbins for mayor; incumbent Tina Elliott for Dunkirk clerk-treasurer and Donna Revolt for city council District 2



Redkey

Republicans — Gloria May for clerk-treasurer

Democrats — Incumbent Mary Eley for clerk-treasurer and “Watermellon” Jim Phillips for town council at-large



Pennville

Republicans — Joshua Miller for town council at-large



Bryant

Republicans — Carrie Minnich for clerk-treasurer, and Gregg Ellenberger and Randall Boice for town council at-large (three seats)