Local Republicans unopposed in Fulton County elections

Republican Party candidates in Fulton County will not face opponents in the November election.  

Independent Thomas Mills, who filed his candidacy to run against Kathy Adamson for auditor, fell short of securing enough signatures to appear on the ballot. He needed a total of 109 signatures – equal to 2 percent of the total vote cast in the last election for secretary of state in the county. 

“He turned in signatures, but there were not enough that we could validate,” Fulton County Clerk Dawn Ziemek said. “We told him he needed to bring in like another 25. He only actually needed 19, but just in case we had some other issues, but he never brought them in.”  

Those signatures were required to be submitted by July 1 at noon.  

Additionally, Democrats did not fill any vacancies on the county ballot by the deadline at noon July 3. With that, the Republican primary back in May effectively set the roster of county officials for the next four years.  

In the primary, Adamson, the county’s current treasurer, won the Republican nomination for auditor by a margin of only eight voters. She secured 1,069 votes, or 50.19 percent of the total, over County Councilwoman Lorie Hurst to move on to the general election. Hurst received 1,061 votes, or 49.81 percent of the total. 

Incumbent Councilman Steve Fishburn and fellow Republicans Barry Baldwin and Patty Geier won nominations for three at-large seats on the county council. Matthew Finke, also in that race, fell short of securing enough votes to move on to the general election. 

Baldwin secured the most votes, 1,381 or 28.11 percent of the total, in the four-way race. Fishburn was second with 1,326 votes, or 27 percent, and Geier finished third with 1,161 votes, or 23.64 percent. Finke received 1,044 votes, or 21.25 percent. 

In another contested Republican primary race, Megihann Leininger secured the nomination for the Newcastle Township precinct committeeman’s spot over Monica Clennon. Leininger, the current township trustee, secured 105 votes, or 70.47 percent of the total. Clennon, the immediate past trustee, received 44 votes, or 29.53 percent. 

Republican voters also selected seven state convention delegates from 11 candidates. Those selected, followed by their vote total are: Chris Sailors, 1,266; Dave Sommers, 1,049; Mike Canada, 1,018; John Geier, 991; Amy Roe, 989; Gail Karas, 968; and Kasey Hensley, 945. LeeAnn Eizinger was one vote shy of tying Hensley for one of the spots. Rick and Carrie Ranstead, as well as Brian Fitzwater, also fell short in that contested race.  

Other Republicans facing no opposition in the primary and general election are: Dave Sommers, District 1 commissioner; Rick Ranstead, District 3 commissioner; Greg Heller, Fulton Superior Court judge; Jennifer Utter, treasurer; and Jon Good, coroner. 

Eighteen people have filed to appear on the ballot for election to five local school boards. 

The filing deadline for school board candidates was June 20 at noon.  

School board candidates are non-partisan positions in Indiana. All eligible voters in the school corporation territory vote for each school board seat. 

Among school board seats up for election this year are three at-large seats on the Rochester School Board. All three incumbents, Katie Miller, Casi Cowles and Kyle Rensberger, have filed for reelection.  

Those filing for Caston School Board are incumbent Chad Boldry, District 2, Scott Rudicel, District 3, and incumbent Cristie Rans, District 4.  

Filing for Tippecanoe Valley School Board are incumbents Aaron Zolman, District 1, and Adam Heckaman, District 2. 

Those filing for open Culver School Board seats are Anthony Zehner, District 1, incumbents Mark Maes, District 2, and John Uebler, District 5. 

Eastern Pulaski Schools will elect four school board members, and there is a six-way race for its three Monroe Township seats. Those candidates are Waylon Burke, Scott Hanson, Gregory Kiser, Monica Potthoff, Stephen Rausch and Jimmy Terry. Incumbent Taylor White has filed and is unopposed for the board's Van Buren Township seat. 

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, with polls open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Fulton County is a vote center county, meaning eligible voters can cast a ballot at any vote center in the county instead of voting at a designated polling place. 

County residents have six locations to choose from, regardless of where they live.  

They are:  

• Rochester West Vote Center, Fulton County 4-H Fairgrounds, Community Building, 1009 W. Third St. 

• Rochester East Vote Center, Community Resource Center, 625 Pontiac St. 

• Fulton County North Vote Center, Fulton County Museum, 37 E. 375 North. 

• Fulton County South Vote Center, Fulton Community Center, 204 E. Dunn St. 

• Fulton County East Vote Center, Akron Community Center, 815 E. Rural St. 

• Fulton County West Vote Center, Kewanna Fire Station, 404 N. Toner St. 

The deadline for a candidate to withdraw from the ballot is July 15 at noon. Among other important election dates, Sept. 21 is the deadline for the county election board to mail absentee ballots, voter registration ends Oct. 7 and the first day to vote early is Oct. 8. 

All registered voters who would like to vote by mail must complete and submit an application by noon Oct. 24. One can apply for an application online at indianavoters.in.gov or download the application and submit it to the election board before the deadline.  

To register to vote, or check registration status, visit indianavoters.in.gov or call the county’s voter registration office at 574-223-7713. 

Anyone interested in working the polls is encouraged to contact the voter registration office, or call the clerk’s office at 574-223-4824.  

“We’re always looking for poll workers,” Ziemek said. “If you’re interested, reach out to us and we’ll get you to the correct party chair.” 

Most importantly, Ziemek encourages people to register to vote before the Oct. 7 deadline and, of course, get out to vote on Nov. 5.