The newly elected county clerk who pushed for significant changes to the way Johnson County residents vote as soon as she took office is pleased with the results of her first election — for the most part.
"It was a great day, for sure. We were very pleased with it," Johnson County Clerk Trena McLaughlin said.
The new voting equipment, which the county decided to rent from a local vendor this year, was a success. Her only qualm with this election: She wishes more people had voted, she said.
She predicted 10 percent, and total turnout was 10.9 percent.
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County election officials had plans to release results as each of the 18 vote centers came in, something the new equipment allowed them to do. But they only ran about eight or nine reports. That’s all they had time to do, McLaughlin said.
"Honestly, it went so fast. This time, we were trying to keep up instead of the other way around," she said.
Despite some extremely close races during Tuesday’s primary, no candidate has challenged those results.
More than 2,000 people voted for Franklin City Court judge, and it was determined by 13 votes. In Greenwood, one of two city council newcomers earned a spot on the fall ballot with just 12 votes.
Candidates have until May 21 to file a challenge, and the Republican party has until May 24 to decide whether to file a petition requesting a recount, McLaughlin said.
So far, 10 races are slated for fall, when voters who live in cities or towns will have a chance to determine who should have a hand in making the local decisions that affect them the most.
Those races are in Greenwood, Franklin, Bargersville and Whiteland. At this point, Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers and Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett do not face opposition, but that could change if an independent candidate comes forward or the county Democratic party slates candidates for the ballot.
In Greenwood, five of the city council’s six district seats are contested.
Matthew Smith, who serves on the city’s plan commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, is vying for the District 1 seat against long-time council member Linda Gibson.
Jason Boudi, who ran unsuccessfully for county sheriff last year, is vying for the District 2 seat. The Democrat hopeful will face council member Ezra Hill, who swept votes against two other contenders during Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Terri Roberts-Leonard, a Franklin College administrator who ran for Clark-Pleasant school board last year, is vying for the District 3 seat against rookie Republican Michael Williams, who beat out longtime council member Bruce Armstrong by just 12 votes.
In District 5, young Democrat hopeful Hunter Haskell will face off against experienced council member J. David Hopper.
Kyle Swain is vying for the District 6 seat against council member Dave Lekse, the only Greenwood council member who did not have a primary challenger.
District 4 council member Ron Bates, who just won re-election, does not have a challenger — yet. At-large candidates Bob Dine, Mike Campbell and newcomer Bradley Pendleton do not have any challengers either.
Currently, all Greenwood city council seats are held by Republicans.
In Bargersville, all six candidates slated for the fall ballot are newcomers.
Three Democrats will face off against the three Republicans who won Republican nods on Tuesday. Democrat candidates include: Eric Arnold, Susan Clare Diagana and Dale Wright. They will face Republicans Ruth Ann Moore, Susie Qualls and James Rumell. There are three seats available.
Franklin’s District 3 seat is contested by Democrat hopeful Donald Smith. He will face Drew Eggers, who walked away with 69 percent of Republican votes on Tuesday.
And Whiteland’s Ward 2 seat is contested by Democrat Mark Eccles.
So far, no Independent candidates have filed to be on the fall ballot, but there’s still time. Independents have until July 1 to apply. At least one person has expressed interest, according to the county’s voter registration office.
Also, the Johnson County Democratic party can still slate candidates for the fall ballot in races where there are no Democrat challengers. That deadline is July 3.
Voters will use the same election equipment in the upcoming fall election, but the county may decide to switch vendors again for future elections.
The county is renting equipment this year from local election vendor, MicroVote, after election officials decided to make a last-minute switch from its former long-time vendor that failed voters in the 2018 election.
Moving forward, the county plans to look at its options for purchasing all new election equipment, which is expected to cost taxpayers upwards of $1 million. MicroVote is on the higher end, and which vendor the county enters into a long-term contract with is ultimately up to the county’s three-member Board of Commissioners, although they have said they will follow the recommendation of the county’s Election Board.
The county is gearing up to start the bidding process on new equipment, McLaughlin said Wednesday. She hopes a decision is made this summer, she said.
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Here is a look at some upcoming election-related deadlines:
May 21: Last day for candidates to file a challenge
May 24: Deadline for party to decide whether to accept challenge and file a petition for a recount
July 1: Independent filing deadline
July 3: Last day for parties to slate a candidate on the fall ballot
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