Early voting begins Tuesday

Voters can head to the polls beginning next week.

Early voting for this year’s primary election begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Jay County Courthouse.

Voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the courthouse auditorium through May 3. Saturday hours are set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27 and May 3. And voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday, May 6.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 7 for election day.

A pair of commissioner races highlight the ballot in the county election this year.

In the north district, former three-term commissioner Mike Leonhard is running against longtime farmer Doug Horn for the GOP nomination for commissioner. Incumbent Republican Rex Journay chose not to seek a second term.

The race for the Republican nomination for commissioner in the south district is a rematch between incumbent Republican Brian McGalliard and Duane Monroe. (McGalliard finished ahead of Monroe and Barb Street in a three-way race for the GOP nomination in 2020.) Democrat Blake Watson is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the south district commissioner seat.

Four Republicans are running for three nominations for at-large seats on Jay County Council. The field includes current council president Matt Minnich, incumbent Dave Haines, former Jay School Board member Bryan Alexander and former Portland City Council member Michael Brewster. (Republican incumbent Jeanne Houchins chose not to seek another term.)

The only other contested race for a county office is for the GOP nomination for treasurer, with current treasurer’s office employee Jonelle Foreman running against current county clerk Jon Eads.

There are contested races in both parties for the nomination for state representative in District 33. On the Republican side, three-term incumbent J.D. Prescott is facing off against Portland attorney Greg LeMaster.

For the Democrats, 2022 nominee John Bartlett is running against Redkey Town Council member “Watermellon” Jim Phillips.

There is also a contested race between Amy Schlichter against Marla Lutes for Republican precinct committeeman in Penn Township.

Uncontested in the primary are Republicans Matt Lehman for District 79 State Representative, Brian Hutchison for Jay Circuit Court Judge, Missy Elliott for county clerk, Brayden Fields for county coroner, Brad Daniels for county surveyor, and Aaron Loy, Robin Alberson, Angela Moeller, Jesse Bivens, Rebecca Thornburg, Randy Stephen, Lenny Muhlenkamp, Kerry Muhlenkamp, Zach Chenoweth, Jeff Hopkins, Jennifer Langenkamp, Matt Goldsworthy, Chuck Huffman, Michael Brewster and Harold Towell, all for precinct committeeman.

Running for Republican state convention delegate are Jenae Blasdel, Jon Eads, Lenny Muhlenkamp, Bryan Alexander, Jared Blasdel, Amy Schlichter, Chad Schlichter, Matt Goldsworthy and Brian Hurt.