Local Republican voters made their voices known Tuesday in the 2024 Primary Election.
Voters selected Sondra Dittmer Sixberry as the Republican nominee for county clerk with 2,387 votes (54.13%) to Leah Craft Denbo’s 2,023 votes (45.87%).
In a contested race for county recorder, Nancy Cox earned the party’s nomination with 3,162 votes (73.33%), defeating Shari Lovold who had 1,150 votes (26.67%)
In the race for the three county council at large seats, newcomer Mike Warren was the top voter-getter with 3,417 votes (30.92%). Incumbents David Hunt followed with 2,990 votes (27.05%) and Gary Booth had 2,933 votes (26.54%). David McCartney had 1,712 votes (15.49%).
The county commissioner seats for district 1 and district 3 were uncontested. Jake Bohlander, a current county councilman at large, secured the district 1 seat held by John Frey who is not seeking re-election. Incumbent Dan Guard also retained his commissioner district 3 seat.
Steve Gressmire ran unopposed for county coroner as did incumbent county surveyor Tom Cummins.
There were several races for Republican precinct committeeman.
Darren Forman had 113 votes to defeat Lonnie Jones who had 72 votes for the Coal Creek seat; Jennifer Bentley Pursell had 117 votes to defeat Christina L. Sharp who had 50 votes for the Crawfordsville 1 seat; and Jennifer Andel had 149 votes to Frey’s 104 votes for the Union 3 seat.
There was a four-person race for the Union 6 seat. Dittmer Sixberry earned 144 votes to edge out Phil Boots who had 138 votes. The other two candidates were Larry M. Sharp, 12 votes, and Sharon F. Sharp, 11 votes.
Jerry Chadwick earned 145 votes to Penny McCann Washer’s 48 votes to earn the Walnut seat, and Bob Cox had 104 votes to Jim Dittmer’s 48 votes to win the Wayne seat.
Republicans will send 12 delegates to the party’s state convention. They are: Todd D. Barton, Boots, Craft-Denbo, Karyn Douglas, Forman, Frey, Jim Fulwider, Guard, Steve Loy, Brad Monts, Aaron Morgan and Dittmer Sixberry.
No local Democrat candidates filed for the Primary Election.
After the primary, independent or minor party candidates may file their paperwork to be on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot. Deadline is noon July 1.
The November ballot will also include local non-partisan school board elections. Candidates may file from May 21 through noon June 20. There are two at large seats open on the five-member Crawfordsville Community School Board; three seats — North Union, Madison and at large — open on the seven-member North Montgomery School Board; and three seats — Scott, South Union and Ripley — open on the seven-member South Montgomery School Board.
Former President Donald Trump won the county with 3,577 votes. In the six-way governor’s race, Mike Braun won the county with 1,813 votes. Jim Baird, U.S. Congressman from the Fourth District, won the county with 3,086 votes over Charles Bookwalter, 990, and John P. Piper, 341.
Brian Buchanan, State Senate District 7, carried the county with 2,344 votes over Joseph Bookwalter, 1,149. Matt Commons had 96 votes to Sharon Negele’s 91 votes for State Representative for District 13. Jeffrey Thompson carried Montgomery County with 476 votes for State Representative District 28 over Joe Batic, 126, and Mark Genda won the county with 48 votes over Joe Strum’s 26 votes.
Total ballots cast were 5,158 for 23.64%.
