Sheriff, auditor, council races become contested

There will definitely be a new sheriff in town, and some voters will have at least two candidates to choose between during May’s primary.

Last week, Richmond Police Department Chief Kyle Weatherly joined Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Alan Moore on the Republican ballot. Both men began actively campaigning for the office last year through appearances at festivals and via social media posts, so their filings were anticipated.

However, in a different county office, one incumbent now faces a challenger in the Republican primary. Amy Chenowith has filed to run for auditor. Mark Hoelscher already filed to seek reelection.

Outgoing Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter of Hagerstown, who is limited to two terms, has filed to run for Indiana House of Representatives (District 56) as a Republican. Incumbent Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) announced he isn’t seeking reelection.

Republican Mark Cox filed to run for Superior Court 3 judge. He was appointed in January 2024 to fill a vacancy.

Bradley “Farmer Brad” Wood has filed to challenge fellow Republican Barry Ritter for Wayne County Council’s District 3.

Incumbent Wayne Township Assessor Gary Callahan has filed to run. He’s a Republican.

New Republican township candidates include Christopher Lane, Jackson Township trustee; Jack Buckland, Boston Township board; Louis Artman and Jan Riggleman, Clay Township board; Jason Roll and Scott Stemple, Franklin Township board; Anne Smith and Max Soliday, Jefferson Township; and Marilyn Sowers, Wayne Township. Democrat Robert McGuire has filed for New Garden Township board. They join two candidates who filed for their townships last week.

All 15 townships (Abington, Boston, Center, Clay, Dalton, Franklin, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, New Garden, Perry, Washington, Wayne and Webster) are seeking trustees and board members.

Prospective candidates running as Republicans or Democrats must submit paperwork by noon Friday, Feb. 6, to get on the May 5 primary ballot.

According to Wayne County’s voter registration office, these candidates are now on the ballot.

Additional filings reported in WWN’s Jan. 14 edition:

• Wayne Superior Court 2 judge: Austin Shadle (Republican)
• Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney: Ashley Green (R)
• County Council: Jeff Cappa (District 1), Beth Leisure (District 3), both Republicans
• County Commissioner: Brad Dwenger (R)
• County Recorder: Debbie Tiemann (R)
• County Assessor: Timothy Smith (R)
• U.S. House of Representatives Sixth District: David Lawrence Boyd (Democrat), Jefferson Shreve (R)
• State convention delegates: Jane Bumbalough, Brad Dwenger, Tara Pegg and Jerry Purcell (District 1), Aaron Roberts and Lora Roberts (District 2), Beth Leisure and Gary Saunders (District 3), all Republicans. They will only be on the ballot if there is a contest.
• Township board member: Gary Keesling, Jefferson Township (R)
• Township trustee: Steve Kaiser, Abington Township (R)
• Democratic Party precinct committee members: Charles Ryan Ogden, Wayne 31

Additional races this spring include: Dublin, Fountain City and Hagerstown town councils (two at-large seats each), State Senate (District 27), and County Council District 4, which includes these precincts (Center 1-6 and Wayne 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31, 33, 34).

Independent or minority party candidates can file a petition of nomination for the November election for verification of petition signatures. Those candidates’ forms are due by noon June 30. Write-in candidates can file their declaration of intent to run in November. Their form is due by noon July 6.

The Libertarian Party must conduct a county convention to nominate candidates by noon July 3.