On Friday, Jan. 9, Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter announced that he will campaign to succeed Rep. Brad Barrett, following Barrett’s Jan. 7 announcement that he will not run again.
“After many years in public service, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing our rural communities,” Retter said in a news release. “I’m running for the Indiana House because I believe in strong, steady leadership that puts Hoosiers first and reflects the values of the people who live and work here.”
The announcements came during the first week of candidate filings for the 2026 election, which will include a number of countywide and local offices that voters could decide on in the fall. The deadline for members of the Republican or Democratic party to file for the primary election is noon Friday, Feb. 6.
Retter, a Republican, praised Barrett’s service and said he planned to build on Barrett’s work.
Retter’s announcement said he began his law enforcement career in 1988, and served in a number of roles with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office before being elected sheriff in 2018. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ball State University and is a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Now in his second term, Retter said that as sheriff he has prioritized public safety initiatives that reduce recidivism, support mental health and addiction-treatment partnerships, and strengthen school safety.
A version of this article appeared in the January 14 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.