Primary ballot mostly set; ex-judge files for prosecutor

With nearly three months to go before voters head to the polls for the first time this year, the primary ballot is set — for the most part.

Johnson County Democrats and Republicans will decide races at all levels of government — from the county prosecutor to state representatives to U.S. senators. There are more than 45 local, state and federal offices on the ballot, as well as elections for delegates to the Democratic and Republican state conventions, and Democrat precinct committeemen.

Former prosecutor challenges incumbent

A former county prosecutor and superior court judge for the last three decades is running for prosecutor again, challenging incumbent Joe Villanueva, who was selected via caucus in 2019.

Lance Hamner resigned as Johnson County Superior Court 3 Judge on Thursday to run for prosecutor in the Republican primary, he said in a campaign announcement Friday afternoon. Gov. Eric Holcomb will appoint a replacement, per state law. Hamner previously served as Johnson County prosecutor from 1991 to 2008.

“I enjoyed my job as a criminal court judge more than I can even describe. But prior to being elected Superior Court Judge, I spent the biggest portion of my career building the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office into a highly effective partner in the fight to protect our citizens from criminals,” Hamner said in a statement.

He is disappointed at how the prosecutor’s office has fared in recent years, he said.

“Fairly and effectively prosecuting criminals is vital to the safety of our community, and that mission is not currently being accomplished. That is the reason – the only reason – that I’m leaving my job as criminal court judge to return to the prosecutor’s office,” Hamner said in the statement.

“Many law enforcement officers have spoken to me privately about their concerns, and I have been concerned as well. Now is a particularly critical time to be mindful of protecting our citizens from crime. Our county is adjacent to Marion County where, year-after-year, we have seen record numbers of homicides.”

He waited until the end of the filing period so he could finish several important cases that were assigned to him, he said.

“The final decision as to who should protect them and their families as prosecutor will be made, as it should be, by the voters,” Hamner said.

Prosecutor Joe Villanueva is running for his first full term in office. He was selected via caucus after former prosecutor Brad Cooper was removed from office due to his felony conviction. Villanueva, who was chief deputy prosecutor at the time, won the caucus against five other candidates.

He was caught off guard by Hamner’s decision to run for prosecutor, he said Friday afternoon.

“When my office faced issues because of the acts of my predecessor, I stepped up and worked diligently to fix any issues that remained after his departure,” Villanueva said in a statement. “The people of Johnson County deserve to have someone who they elect believe that the person is committed to the position to which they were elected, and will fulfill their current commitments.”

He has spent his entire 22-year career at the prosecutor’s office, and continues to carry a caseload, he said.

“I have personally tried two recent attempted murder cases where the victims were police officers from Johnson County, and secured convictions on both of them,” Villanueva said in the statement. “I have a caseload, go to court and try my own cases.”

Additionally, he has taken steps over the past two years to work more closely with law enforcement, including having prosecutors at every major crime scene, having regular meetings with police administration, providing numerous training seminars and legal updates, and doing “ride alongs” with officers, he said.

“Under my leadership we helped organize and execute multiple agency narcotics roundups, two multi-agency sex crimes stings, as well as help to provide nationally recognized sex trafficking training,” Villanueva said. “These things happened because the current leadership of the police agencies and I work well together.”

Some incumbents are unopposed

Several local offices likely won’t see any changes.

More than two-thirds of local offices have just one candidate each, including county assessor, auditor, clerk, recorder and sheriff. Other local offices with just one candidate include Johnson County Commissioner District 2 and Whiteland Town Council Ward 2. Most are incumbents.

Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, is running unopposed for a second term in the Indiana House of Representatives, and Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, is running unopposed for re-election in the Indiana Senate.

Walker, however, will face a challenger in the general election, as Democrat Bryan Muñoz will challenge him for his seat. Muñoz, like Walker, is unopposed in the primary.

Incumbents challenged in towns, townships

Three township boards, along with the Bargersville, Edinburgh and New Whiteland town councils have contested races.

The newly merged Franklin Union Needham Township board, which will have one member from each township, will have one contested primary in May — for the Union Township seat. Dawn Barr and Justin Griggs will face off. However, all three seats on the board will likely see candidates from both parties running in the November election.

Pleasant and White River Township will also see contested primary and general elections. In Pleasant Township, John Asher, Ron McCoy and Thomas L. Whitaker will face off in the Republican primary, while Democrats Jessica Burnside and Margaret L. Sheets will fight for their party’s nomination. In White River Township, Republicans Dick Huber, Davis S. Pollard and Margaret (Peggy) Young will face off in their party’s primary. Trisha Phillips and Robert A. Pribush will face off in the Democratic primary.

In Edinburgh, four candidates are running for two at-large seats on the town council. Republican incumbents Debra K. Buck and Marshall Ryan Piercefield will face primary challenges from Ryan Blaker and Maryann Gallagher-Little. Bargersville and New Whiteland town councils also have contested primaries.

State, federal reps face battles

The contested primaries don’t stop there. There are several races for state and federal offices.

In the Statehouse, Johnson County will be now be represented by two new districts — 57 and 60 — and both will have contested races in the Republican primary.

District 57’s Republican primary is a three-way race between Rob Stiles, Craig Haggard and Melinda K. Griesemer. Griesemer is in year two of her term on the Johnson County Council. The district was in Shelby County, but after redistricting, moved west to encompass portions of northwestern White River Township, northeastern Morgan County and southeastern Hendricks County.

In District 60, Incumbent Rep. Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, will face off against White River Township resident Brittany Carroll in the primary. The district was redrawn to include portions of White River Township, along with almost all of Morgan County and portions of northern Monroe County.

A four-way race is underway for the Republican nomination in District 47, which now includes Franklin, Bargersville, all of southern Johnson County and portions of western and northwestern Shelby County. Incumbent John Young will face off against Luke Campbell, Rob Green and Scott C. Strother.

In the U.S. Senate race, where Todd Young is running for re-election, he faces a primary challenge from Danny Niederberger. Young was elected in 2016, and this would be his second term if re-elected. Across the aisle, three Democrats are fighting for the party’s nomination — Haneefah Khaaliq, Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. and Valerie McCray.

Following federally-mandated redistricting, Johnson County was placed into a new U.S. congressional district — moving to District 6 from District 9. There are contested primaries for both parties. Johnson County’s new U.S. representative, Republican Greg Pence of Columbus, faces a primary challenge from both James Dean Alspach and Zach Smith. In the Democratic primary, there is a three-way race between George Thomas Holland, Cynthia (Cinde) Wirth and Whiteland resident Mark J. Powell.

County council races still up in the air

Possible races for four open numbered seats on the Johnson County Council is up in the air, as the filing deadline was extended following a court decision last month.

The Johnson County GOP filed a petition in Morgan County to order the Johnson County Board of Commissioners, auditor and clerk to move the deadline back and conduct the redistricting process during an election year. The petition was filed because the county had to rush to submit new districts before the end of last year, and did not have time to properly draw the districts. Indiana law forbids redistricting during an election year, however, the county council seats on the ballot this year required redistricting.

The petition did not allege any wrongdoing of the county’s elected officials, but requested more time in light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the redistricting process, as the coronavirus pandemic delayed the 2020 U.S. Census, the redistricting process that depends on new population data was also delayed. The county did not receive an order from the state until Dec. 20 — 11 days before the statutory deadline.

The new district maps are being redrawn now, with final maps to be reviewed by the Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 22.

In the meantime, the Republican primary race for District 1 has Auditor Pamela J. Burton running against Robert (Robbie) Williams. In District 4, Republicans Walt Janeic and John M. Mallers have thrown their hats in the ring. And in District 2, Republican Charlotte A. Sullivan is running unopposed for the seat currently occupied by Rob Henderson, who has not yet filed for re-election. Republican incumbent Jon T. Myers is running unopposed in District 3.

The last day to file for one of the four county council seats is Feb. 25, three days after the new maps are expected to be approved.

The full list of candidates for local, state and federal offices for the May primary, along with state convention delegates and local precinct committeemen, from the Johnson County Voter Registration Office can be found here.

Daily Journal editor James Vaughn contributed to this report.