Voters will take to polls Tuesday

Voters in Jay County will make their selections Tuesday.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday as local voters make their selections for Republican nominations for commissioner in the north and south districts and three at-large seats on Jay County Council. The only contested race on the Democrat ballot locally is for the nomination for state representative in District 33.

In addition to primary election day, Jay County Courthouse will also be open for early voting from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday.

The pair of commissioner races highlight the ballot at the county level, as in the north district former three-term commissioner Mike Leonhard, a retired contractor, is running against longtime farmer Doug Horn. Incumbent Republican Rex Journay chose not to seek a second term.

In the south district, the race is a rematch from 2020 as incumbent Brian McGalliard, owner of Pizza King in Portland, faces off against Jay County REMC employee Duane Monroe. (McGalliard defeated 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.

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

The other contested race for a county office pits current county treasurer’s office employee Jonelle Foreman and current county clerk Jon Eads against each other for treasurer.

The ballot also includes contested races in both parties for the nomination for state representative in District 33. For the Republicans, the race features three-term incumbent J.D. Prescott against Portland attorney Greg LeMaster. 

On the Democrat ballot, 2022 nominee John Bartlett of rural Hartford City is running against Redkey Town Council member “Watermellon” Jim Phillips.

Amy Schlichter and Marla Lutes are running for Republican precinct committeeman in Penn Township.

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, are uncontested in the primary.

Candidates 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.