Candidates in a quandary
We are now within two months of the postponed primary election, set for June 2. It is certain to be the strangest election of our time.
Generally, election campaigning is underway by this time of year. But, with most of the electorate housebound, there is little sign of an approaching election.
The election itself could even be conducted by mail only if Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson determines that is the best course of action. She will make that decision by April 22.
For candidates, the whole situation presents a real quandary. They cannot go door-to-door and they cannot attend various political and community meetings usually held in advance of an election.
TV, newspaper and mailed material are about the only ways to reach large numbers of voters, and these methods are expensive.
So far a scattering of candidates for Congress and State Senate have run advertising. That includes congressional hopefuls Beth Henderson and Victoria Spartz, and Scott Baldwin and John Gaylor running for the Senate.
But, Spartz and Henderson are only two among a field of 15 candidates in the Republican primary for Congress.
On the local ballot there are also contests for county commissioner between Steve Dillinger and Charlie McMillan, for county treasurer between Susan Byer and Kim Good, and a big eight-way race for county council.
The council race is for three at-large seats and features Brad Beaver, Lyneen Burrow, John Ditslear, Jeff Hern, Sue Maki, Rick McKinney, Steve Nation and Tony Scott.
Many of these candidates have not decided themselves how to best campaign in the type of atmosphere we find ourselves.
In the meantime, the county election office is processing a record number of applications for absentee ballots. The office staff said yesterday they have already surpassed the number of applications received four years ago in the big 2016 primary.