By FRED SWIFT
The County Line
Where are the candidates?
With only a week until the filing deadline for the May primary election, there are precious few contests in store for Hamilton County voters in the all-important Republican primary, and no Democratic candidates for county office.
Incumbents for most major local offices have filed intentions to seek re-election, but to date almost none have opponents.
Running for office has become an expensive proposition. The county is so large now that costly campaigns involving mailers, newspaper ads, numerous yard signs or even TV advertising are often needed to be successful.
There may be a flurry of candidacies filed in the last day or two as is normal, but current reports do not indicate a great number this year.
For some reason there are folks who like to wait until the last minute to file. Whether there is any advantage to waiting is doubtful.
Thus far, the only races for county and township offices are for judge of the new Hamilton Superior Court 7, County Council in District 3, Township trustee in White River and Fall Creek and the Adams and Noblesville Township Boards. This could make for a very low-interest election where nomination in the GOP primary is usually tantamount to election in heavily Republican Hamilton County.
In the race for judge of the new court where there is no incumbent, Darren Murphy and Stephenie Gookins will square off. In the county council race, incumbent Steve Schwartz will face Mark Hall.
In township trustee races, White River incumbent Jamie Rulon is challenged by Robbie Ping.
For Noblesville Township Board, six have filed for the three-member board. They include Joe Arrowood, Mary Sue Rowland, Charlie McMillan, Perry Williams, Peggy Pfister and Terry Busby. And, for Adams Township Board, four have filed for the board including Floyd Barker, Gail Godby, Ron Stone, John Christian and Bryan Will.
Nearly all the candidates are Republicans. The only Democrats filed for a township office are Joe Weingarten, running for Fall Creek Township Board, and Nicole Tredup, running for Fall Creek Township Trustee.
Dozens of Democrats and Republicans have filed for party positions: precinct committeeman and state convention delegate, but these are not public offices.
The filing deadline is noon on Friday, Feb. 4.