In less than a month, fall ballots will be set.
Independents have until July 1 to file for candidacy, and the Johnson County Democratic Party has until July 3 to slate any candidates for vacancies on the ballot. So far, no Democrats have been slated.
Thirteen 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.
Contested races are taking shape in Greenwood, Franklin, Bargersville, Whiteland and Trafalgar. 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 those top leadership posts.
Three independent candidates filed all of the necessary paperwork with the county clerk’s office to be placed on a ballot, said Reagan Higdon, first deputy clerk.
Kimberly Rice, who first filed for Trafalgar clerk-treasurer as a Republican but was challenged by the party due to lack of voting history and removed, has since filed as an independent for the job. She will face incumbent Donna Moore in the fall election, marking the only contested race in the county’s smallest town.
Zach Stevenson filed as an independent for Franklin City Council’s District 4 seat; he will face Republican Ken Austin, who was uncontested in the primary.
Erin Davis filed as an independent for Franklin City Council At-Large; she is up against four Republicans for two seats.
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 in the primary.
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 the 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 longtime council member Bruce Armstrong by 12 votes.
In District 5, young Democrat hopeful Hunter Haskell will face 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. Democrat candidates include: Eric Arnold, Susan Clare Diagana and Dale Wright. They will face Republicans Ruth Ann Moore, Susie Qualls and James Rumell. Three seats are available.
Whiteland’s Ward 2 seat is contested by Democrat Mark Eccles.
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Here is a look at the remaining filing windows for open seats on the ballots in the fall election:
Independent candidates can file until noon on July 1;
The county Democratic party can slate a candidate to fill a vacancy on the ballot until noon on July 3.
HOW TO FILE: Candidates are encouraged to fill out the required forms at the county’s voter registration office in the basement of the Johnson County Courthouse. But you can also print them out online and bring them in.
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