Primary voters may be deciding sheriff, prosecutor

Comet staff report

Carroll County voters may well be choosing their new sheriff and prosecuting attorney at Tuesday's primary; that is, if the Democratic Party does not find opponents who will significantly challenge them this fall in this Republican-dominated county.

The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Republican candidates for county sheriff are deputies Tony Burns and John Chapman, both of Delphi. No candidate filed from the Democratic Party.

That is also the case for county prosecuting attorney. Incumbent Robert Ives, Flora, is being challenged by Trisha Thompson, Delphi. They are both Republicans.

At a candidate debate last week in Delphi, Chapman and Burns disagreed on whether the county needs a new jail facility. "Our jail has problems," Chapman said. "There is no maintenance schedule." He believes building a new facility is the answer.

Burns agreed the current building has inadequacies but he wants to add on to the east side of the jail and suggests off-site or satellite office solutions.

"I'm committed to the community," he said. He also stressed the need for the sheriff to be accessible and to have peoples' trust.

Chapman said the sheriff's job "is most important." He believes it's time for that department to start moving forward.

When asked what the prosecutor's two biggest challenges are, Thompson replied methamphetamine and child abuse. Ives responded, "the mass of cases" and not taking on too much non-prosecutor business.

Ives said, "I'm always ready to discuss issues and matters."

Thompson believes, "It's time for a change."

For State Representative District 24, Republican Richard "Rick" Eller, Galveston, is challenging Republican incumbent Richard W. "Rich" McClain, Logansport. There is no Democratic candidate. District 24 includes all of Carroll County.

At the federal level, Republican incumbent Chris Chocola, Bristol, is being challenged by Tony Zirkle, South Bend, for U.S. Representative District 2. District 2 includes all of Carroll County.

Seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative District 2 are Joe Donnelly, Granger, and Steve Francis, South Bend.

Running unopposed for county offices on the Republican ballot are Don Currie, Delphi, Circuit Court judge; Beth L. Myers (incumbent), Delphi, auditor; Jane Brewington (incumbent), Flora, treasurer; Doris L. McLeland (incumbent), Delphi, assessor; Loren T. Hylton (incumbent), commissioner District 1.

Republican candidates unopposed for county council seats are: Ronald "Ron" Slavens, Idaville, District 1; Jerry L. Hendress (incumbent), Camden, District 2; Ann Brown (incumbent), Flora, District 3; Nancy S. Cripe (incumbent), Delphi, District 4.

Running unopposed for county treasurer on the Democratic ballot is Pamela J. Mansfield, Brookston.

School boards

School board elections take place during the primary. Those elected on May 2 will take office on July 1.

In the Delphi Community School Corporation, two of four positions up for election have opposition. James "Jim" B. Garrison and Steven G. Myer, both of Delphi, are vying for the District 1 seat.

William Michael Penn and Melinda K. Rossetter, both of Delphi, seek the District 7 position.

Running unopposed are Nicklaus H. Cronk, Delphi, District 2, and Jerry L. Sparks, Camden, District 3.

In the Delphi school corporation, candidates are voted on by the voters of their district only.

Diana L. Vice, Mulberry, is seeking an at-large position on the Rossville Consolidated School Corporation (RCSC) board of school trustees. Phillip D. Burkle, Rossville, is a write-in candidate for that position. Burkle's name will not appear on the ballot.

For RCSC precinct 35, Jon Kathrens Jacoby, Frankfort, is running unopposed.

Carroll Consolidated School Corporation (CCSC) has two positions open. David W. Lambert, Flora, seeks the District 2 spot, while Eric E. Johnson, Logansport, seeks the District 5 spot.

Even though candidates in the CCSC run for election in districts, they are voted on by all the voters in the corporation.

Louie Coble and Anthony G. Deibel, both of Burnettsville, are seeking the District 1 (includes Carroll County) position on the Twin Lakes School Corporation board of school trustees. Township positions

Selections for township trustees and advisory board members will be made for the November General Election. Republicans running unopposed for township trustee are: Carmen L. Slavens, Adams; Lawrence R. Lambert, Burlington; Rebecca L. Phillips, Carrollton, Marla R. Milazzo, Clay; Neda K. Duff, Deer Creek; Harold L. Erdmann, Jefferson; Marki E. Justice, Liberty; Kenneth G. Fife, Monroe; and Lois A. Wallace, Washington.

No Republicans filed for the trustee position for Democrat, Jackson, Madison, Rock Creek, or Tippecanoe townships.

Democrats running unopposed for township trustee are: Alan D. Jackson, Burlington; Helen L. Schilling, Deer Creek; Clayton C. Hutson, Democrat; Robert "Bill" Dittman Jr., Jackson; James L. Tribbett, Liberty; Amanda Robinson, Madison; and Joann V. Vianco, Tippecanoe.

No Democrat filed for the trustee position for Adams, Carrollton, Clay, Jefferson, Monroe, Rock Creek, and Washington townships.

Candidates for township advisory board are:

Adams: Democrat - No candidate. Republican - Robert G. Peterson, Jeffrey Potts, Rick Roller.

Burlington: D - Linda L. Huffer and James "Jim" E. Walker. R - John G. Bogue, Linda A. Heinzelman, Greg Holderbaum.

Carrollton: D - Mike Barnard, Linda L. Nelson. R - No candidate.

Clay: D - No candidate. R - Jerry Frey, Jeffrey "Jeff" L. Kessler, Wayne Remaly.

Deer Creek: D - James M. Shaffer. R - Tom Hesler, Sherry C. Mears.

Democrat: D - Theodore M. Enoch, William L. McCarty, Jeremy Reef. R - Carol R. Bordner, Beth Stephens.

Jackson: D - Byron Rude, Daniel C. Shanks, Joe A. Wallace. R - Deborah "Deb" Foreman, Rodney L. Moudy.

Jefferson: D - Rita Emmons, John R. Scott. R - Ronald C. Felz, John J. Shellcrosslee.

Liberty: D - Phillip Penn, Richard Rinehart, Kenneth G. Tribbett. R - Joseph P. Martin, Charles "Chuck" E. Mullendore, Darrell D. Routh, Jason W. Scott, Carla Schaeffer.

Madison: D - No candidate. R - Dee A. Humbarger.

Monroe: D - No candidate. R Lois Ayres, Ruth E. Erisman, Janice A. Marvin, Scott D. Sisson.

Rock Creek: D - Sandy Brown. R - Larry Fuller.

Tippecanoe: D - No candidate. R - Daniel L. Gottschalk, Ralph E. Hughes, Marcia Jura.

Washington: D - Thomas C. Guckien, Joseph O. Mylet. R - William "Bill" A. Hardy.

Filing for precinct committeemen were: Democratic - Teddy A. Huffer, Burlington Township; Richard N. DePoy, Jefferson 1; Tom O'Farrell, Jefferson 2; Thomas R. VanSickle, Tippecanoe 1. Republican - John D. Blackburn, Adams; Lawrence R. Lambert, Burlington; Barbara Ann Chapman, Carrollton; Thomas S. Brodar, Deer Creek 1; P. Sue Hoard, Deer Creek 3; Nda K. Duff and Richard Joyce, Deer Creek 5; Beth Stephens, Democrat; Linda M. Parrett, Jackson; Darrell D. Routh, Liberty; Gene Humbarger, Madison; Gerald E. Clingenpeel, Monroe 1; Meredith L. Ayres, Monroe 2; Grace Deel, Rock Creek; Ronald L. Francis, Tippecanoe 1; Donna L. Romein, Tippecanoe 2; and Lois Wallace, Washington. State convention

Delegates to the party conventions will be elected Tuesday.

Candidates for state conventions are: Democrat - Linda L. Huffer, Teddy A. Huffer, Janice K. Rode, Rolland R. Roe. Republican - Gene Humbarger, Clara E. Rider.

New election

requirement

A new state law requires that all voters must now show a government issued photo ID to cast a ballot. The ID must:

display the voter's photo;

display the voter's name, and the name must conform with the voter registration record (conform does not mean identical);

contain an expiration date and either be current or have expired sometime after the date of the last General Election (Nov. 2, 2004);

be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. Government (driver's license, photo ID card, passport, or military ID).

Those who do not have a valid photo ID can obtain one free of charge from any Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch. Typically the BMV is closed on Monday, but to accommodate voters, license branches will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Tuesday, primary election day, they will be open earlier than usual, 6 a.m., and close at 7 p.m.

Voters who are unable or unwilling to present ID meeting the new requirements may cast a provisional ballot. Those who cast a provisional ballot have up to 12 noon ten days after the election to follow up with the County Election Board and either provide the documentation or affirm one of the law's exemptions.