There were a couple of surprises in the Scott County Republican Primary last Tuesday.
Incumbent Republican District 2 County Commissioner Mike Jones lost his primary bid to be the party’s nominee to political new-comer Adam Bomar. Countywide Bomar out-polled Jones 1,112 to 1061 for a 51 vote victory. Bomar will face Democrat, and a former County Commissioner, Larry Blevins in November.
In another GOP surprise, Bryton Richey won the GOP nomination for county coroner 1,115-1015 over Jonathan L. White. White is an incumbent Republican County Councilman representing District 1 and has had two unsuccessful bids to be the City of Austin’s Mayor. Richey is currently unopposed in the fall.
Sarah M. Helton defeated Stephanie Gabbard 1,171 to 869 to win the GOP nomination for County Recorder. She will face Democrat Kristi Richie-Johnson in November.
In the Republican race for District 1 county commissioner, incumbent Randy Julian won a three-way race. Julian received 946 votes to Lonnie Noble’s 733 to Marvin Lynn Robinson’s 477 votes. Julian will face a challenge in November from Democrat Donnie Richie who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Five Republicans were seeking their party’s nomination for the three county council at-large seats. James Richey led the GOP tally with 1,224 votes, John Hardin gathered 1,108 and Justin Cheatham received 902 votes to be their party’s nominees in November. Debra Stroud-Hubbard received 648 votes and Brad Stotts polled 628.
In the Democrat primary for county council at-large, six candidates were seeking their party’s three nominations. John C. Lizenby led all voters with 848 votes, Teresa Baker Vannarsdall tallied 654 and Jim Boswell polled 571 votes to win their party’s nod to run in November. Shane E. Deaton received 326 votes, Keith Henderson polled 322 and Brandon L. Stagnolia received 258.
In Indiana House races, District 66 Incumbent Republican Zach Payne received 1,039 votes in Scott County to challenger’s James E. Baker’s 300. District wide Payne won the nomination 5,221 to 1,613. Payne will face Democrat Jennifer David in the fall who defeated Rick Cannon 355-147 in Scott County and 1,416-677 throughout the district.
In House District 69, incumbent Republican Jim Lucas defeated challenger 665 to 202 in Scott County. While Lucas won district-wide 4,584-3,390 over Savilla, he lost Jackson County (his home county) 2,705-2559. Lucas will face Democrat Trish Whitcomb in November.
There were only two contested races for Jackson county offices for the GOP.
Drew Story won his party’s nomination for District 2 commissioner polling 3,158 votes to Bret Cunningham’s 1,361 and Michael Bobb’s 1,227.
In the five person race seeking the three at-large County Council seats, incumbents won. John Nolting led the council vote tallies with 3,316 votes to Amanda Lowery’s 3,265 and R. Brett Turner’s 2,996. Lucas Hanner polled 2,507 and Roger Hurt received 2,152.