Primary Election turnout ‘disappointing’ in Posey County

Posey County Clerk Kay Kilgore wraps up another successful Posey County Primary Election. Photo by Dave Pearce

By Dave Pearce

Although Posey County Election officials seemed happy to have Tuesday’s Primary Election finished quickly, it was obvious to those present at the Counrthouse that the Primary turnout was not the result people the candidates deserved. Just over 10 percent of the elgible voters in Posey County turned out to vote on Election Day.

Although there were no hotly contested races in this year’s primary, veterans like State Representative candidate Jim Tomes was clearly disappointed that so few turned out to perform their civic duting, saying the following after the election.

“The Primary election is in the rear view mirror now and Margie and I want to thank all those who voted for me, worked with the campaign and all those who worked the polls,” Tomes began. “It was reported that about two percent of eligible Republicans voted in this election.”

It’s been said, “we have been given the right to vote,” he continued. “Actually, it wasn’t a gift. It was earned, earned at the cost of life and limb. Earned by men who fought an 8-year war. Eight years in brutal conditions, suffocating heat, sleepless nights enduring insect bites, cold to the bone winters all with no end in sight.”

However with God’s hand there was an end, Tomes explained. “Our forefathers went the distance. Voting is a duty, obligation, it’s a requirement.”

Obviously saddened, Tomes concluded, “Given the weather conditions for the guys in 1776, it shouldn’t be too much to expect for us to leave our climate-controlled homes, get in our climate-controlled car, vote, and then return home in the same manner. It’s been 250 years we should know the drill by now. God Bless you and God Bless America.”

A total of 1921 votes vere cast in Posey County in one of the smallest turnouts ever. Of those voting, 1128 pulled a Republican ballot while 793 pulled a Democratic ballot.

Eighth District Congressman Mark Messmer resceived 1,028 votes with no opposition. District 49 State Senator Jim Tomes received 963 votes to 146 for challenger Brandi Durham Pugh. State Representative Candidate for District 76 Wendy McNamara received 966 votes.

Incumbent Psoey Superior Court Judge Travis Clowers received 1047 votes while incumbent Posey County Prosecutor Thomas Clowers received 1037 votes. Circuit Court Clerk GOP candidate Vicki Peerman received 1,045 votes and County Auditor Maegan Greenwell received 983 votes. The was no GOP Candidatte for the Posey County Recorder job on the GOP side.

In other GOP oting, Jeremy Fortune received 1,035 votes for sheriff while Jay Price recived 1,049 votes for Coroner. Joshua Hammond-Kelly received 988 votes and Greg Newman received 1,026 votes for County Commissioner in District 2. Jerry Chastain iii, B. David Dausman, and Zack George easily won their praty’s nomination for COunty Countil in Districts 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

Jessica L. Wright won 280 votes for Black Township Trustee and Shelly Hargrove, Gregory Roeder, and Jamie Yarber got the party nod for Black Township Board receiving 259, 233, and 216 votes respectively.

Janet Hoehn received 100 percent of the vote for Lynn Township Trustee and Dana Pate and Brandon Deig each received 100 percent of the vote for Lynn Township board member and Marrs Township Trustee, respectively.

Kevin R. Brown and Stefani Miller got the nod for Marrs Township Board member and April Riecken got 100 percent of the vote for Point Township Trustee. Mary Price, Cody Saltzman, and Connie R. Thompson will be the candidates for the Point Townshiip 3-person Board.

In Robb Township, Chales Cart got 100 percent of the vote for Robb Township Trustee and Sarah Newton and Harrison A, Unger earned the party’s nod for Robb Township Board Member.

In Robinson Township, Margaret Montgomery and Hans Schmitz each received 100 percent of the votes cast for Robinson Township Trustee and Robinson Toqwnship Board Member, respectively.

For Republican Stae Convention Delegate, in no particular order, Heather Allyn, Bill Collins, Jeremy Fortune, Stacy George, Kay Kilgore, Tom Latham, Steve Loehr, Greg Newmn, Justin Rutledge, Jim Tomes, and Margie Tomes were slected.

On the Democratic Side, Mary Allen won 628 votes to 72 for Tabitha Ziegler, 67 for Christopher Rector, and 19 for Marion Foradori. Cindi Clayton received 753 votes for State Senator in District 49. Logan Patberg received 754 votes for State Representative in District 76. Chris Hoen rreceived 743 votes for County Recorder and Tom Schneider garned 100 percent of the votes for County Council in District One. Jeff Greenwell received 247 votes for County Council in District Four.

In Harmony Township. James Robert Scarafia got 100 percent of the votes for Township Trustee and Melissa Peerman (77), Charles Mann (70), and Danny Creek (68) were given the nod for the three spots oas Harmony Township Board members.

Greg Redman received 100 percent of the vote for Lynn Township Board and Brenda Garris also was unanimously selected for the Robb Township Board.Jo Franklin was unanimously chosen for the Democratic Candidate for the Smith Township Trustee.

The General Election will be held November 3 in 2026.