First Deputy Clerk Amy Briggs signs candidacy filings on Jan. 5 at Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
The county’s primary election ballot is now set, and candidates for four county council races are now final after a deadline extension.
Two Johnson County Council districts have contested races during the primary election. The primary election is May 3.
Republican Auditor Pamela J. Burton is running against David W. Bleke in District 1. Previously, Robert “Robbie” Williams was running in District 1, but was removed from the ballot earlier this month by the Johnson County Election Board after he failed to meet the state’s requirements for candidacy. He had voted in just one recent primary election, and state law requires two, officials said.
In District 4, Republicans Walt Janeic and John M. Mallers have thrown their hats in the ring. Council member Jim Ison did not file for re-election.
Republican Charlotte A. Sullivan is running unopposed for the District 2 seat currently occupied by Rob Henderson. Republican incumbent Jon T. Myers is running unopposed in District 3.
Most of the county’s ballot was set earlier this month, however, the filing deadline for the county council’s four numbered districts had to be extended due to redistricting. 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 were redrawn earlier this month and approved Tuesday.
