Those wishing to run for public office in the 2020 primary election have one week left to register at the Jackson County Judicial Center in Brownstown.
The list of offices up for election this year include county commissioner District 1 and District 2 seats and three at-large county council seats.
The deadline to file for the county positions for the May 5 primary election is noon Feb. 7.
In Jackson County, there are no Democrats challenging Republican-held positions.
As of 11 a.m. Thursday, five Republicans had registered to run for the three at-large seats on the county council.
Dave Hall of Norman and fellow Councilman John Nolting of Brownstown both registered Jan. 8 when registration opened. Republican Ann Cain, who holds the other at-large council seat, hasn’t registered for re-election.
Seymour’s Tom Joray put his name in the council race Jan. 10, and Seymour’s Woodrow Dezarn Jr. and Crothersville’s Ryan Brett Turner both registered late last week. Joray was a county commissioner representing District 2 from 2013 to 2017, while Dezarn was a Seymour city councilman from 2000 to 2004.
The commissioners races haven’t seen any changes.
Bob Gillaspy of Seymour doesn’t have a challenger for the District 2 seat, and Brownstown’s Drew Markel also doesn’t for the District 1 position.
Other county offices up for election this year are treasurer, auditor, coroner and surveyor.
Brownstown’s Ronald Cox and Seymour’s Paul Foster both filed declarations for the job as coroner, presently held by Republican Mike Bobb, on opening day.
Seymour’s Kathy Hohenstreiter is currently running unopposed for the county treasurer position, while Brownstown’s Roger Hurt is the only one running for county auditor. The two would be switching positions should they get elected as Hurt is finishing up his first four year term as treasurer and Hohenstrieter is completing her second four year term. Anyone holding either of those offices is limited to two year terms by the state Constitution.
Surveyor Daniel Blann of Brownstown doesn’t have a challenger as he seeks for re-election.
In the courts, Jackson Superior Court I Judge AmyMarie Travis of Brownstown is currently running unopposed. The Jackson Circuit Court and Jackson Superior Court II judges are not up for election this year.
State-level officials also have been filing.
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb is being challenged by Democrats Woodrow Myers and Joshua Owens, both of Indianapolis, and Carmel Republican Brian Roth.
Ninth District Congressman Trey Hollingsworth of Jeffersonville is seeking re-election to his third two-year term this cycle. Four Democrats look to take his seat: Bloomington’s Dale Dorris and Andrew Ruff, Whiteland’s Mark Powell and Los Angeles, California’s James O’Gabhann III.
In the Indiana House, District 65 is presently held by Bedford Republican Chris May; District 69 is presently held by Seymour Republican Jim Lucas; and District 73 is presently held by Salem Republican Steve Davisson.
All three have filed declarations of candidacies for re-election, but only one lawmaker faces an opponent.
The only race with a challenger is District 73 with Henryville Republican Mark Cox running for election against Davisson.
Those interested in running for a countywide office need to have a voting record that shows affiliation with a major political party. If they don’t have a voting history established, they need certification from the chairperson of the party for which they choose to run.
Some people choose to fill out all of the paperwork in county Clerk Melissa Hayes’ office, while others download it from the state website and have most of it filled out before going to the clerk’s office.
Information: 812-358-6120