Midterm elections draw little interest
Midterm elections draw little interest
By Al Stilley
Southsider Voice correspondent
U.S. Congressional races, contests in Marion County and selected school board races are the main attractions Tuesday for Southside voters.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m-6 p.m. in Marion County; Greenwood voters can cast their ballots at any of 20 centers in Johnson County.
Political observers perceive a light turnout in Marion County and an even lighter turnout in Johnson County, where many Republican incumbents are unopposed.
Congressional incumbents Andre Carson, D-Seventh District, and Todd Young, R-Ninth District, are up for re-election. Carson is challenged by Republican Catherine “Cat” Ping and Libertarian Chris Mayo. Carson won a four-way primary with 89 percent of the vote in May. Ping had a much closer outcome against four GOP opponents with a 32 percent plurality. Young faces Democrat Bill Bailey and Libertarian Mike Frey.
Three Statehouse representative races on the Southside are contested: District 89 incumbent Cindy Kirchhofer, R, vs. Debra Jenkins, D; District 91 incumbent Robert Behning, R, Patrick Lockhart, D; and District 93 incumbent David Frizzell, R, vs. Ryan Guillory, D.
In the secretary of state race, Marion County Clerk Beth White, D, and Karl Tatgenhorst, L, are challenging incumbent Connie Lawson, D.
In key Marion County races, Sheriff John Layton, D, a Southsider, is being challenged by Emmitt Carney, R, and Prosecutor Terry Curry, D, faces Duane Merchant, R.
Three Perry Township races are of interest.
Longtime Small Claims Court Judge Robert Spear, R, faces Amanda Whipple, D. Former City-County Councilor Susie Day, R, of Beech Grove and Jerry Lee Melvin, D, are seeking the trustee’s office. Day defeated incumbent Dale Moriarty with a 55 percent plurality in the May primary. Constable David Taylor is opposed by Michael Dunigan, D, and Jose Mejia, L.
A few school board seats will be contested.
There is a three-way battle among Ed Denning, Stephen Maple and Jon Morris for the District 1 seat in Perry Township. Board members in Franklin Township and Beech Grove are unopposed.
Greenwood board candidates Mike Metzger and Nick Schwab are competing for the at-large seat held by Shirley Roscoe, who is serving her last term.
Voters in the Center Grove school district can choose from incumbents Scott Alexander, Adam Norman and Jack Russell and challenger Elisa Horne for three at-large seats.
In Johnson County, all Republican officeholders up for re-election are unopposed.
Voter information
Voters must present a valid photo identification at the polls. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be open from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday and on Election Day at 6 a.m. to issue photo IDs. Voters may obtain information by calling or 327-5100 461-8683 or visiting www.Indiana Voters.com.
Marion County residents may vote early at the clerk’s office, Room W-122 of the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 8 a.m.-noon Monday. Call 327-5100 or visit www.IndianaVoters.com for more information.
Voters may call their ballots early at the Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m.-noon Monday. Vote centers at Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria, I-65 and Main Street, Mount Pleasant Christian Church and Mount Pleasant Christian Church, 383 N. Bluff Road, are open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Friday and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Call 346-4467 for information.
The following vote centers will be open on Election Day in the Greenwood area: Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria; Mount Pleasant Christian Church; White River Library, 1664 Library Blvd.; Greenwood Community Center, 100 Surina Way; Rocklane Christian Church, 4430 Rocklane Road; Mount Auburn Methodist Church, 3100 W. Stones Crossing Road; Greenwood Christian Church, 2045 Averitt Road; Community Church of Greenwood, 1477 W. Main St.; and the White River trustee’s office, 299 S. Morgantown Road.
By Al Stilley
Southsider Voice correspondent
U.S. Congressional races, contests in Marion County and selected school board races are the main attractions Tuesday for Southside voters.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m-6 p.m. in Marion County; Greenwood voters can cast their ballots at any of 20 centers in Johnson County.
Political observers perceive a light turnout in Marion County and an even lighter turnout in Johnson County, where many Republican incumbents are unopposed.
Congressional incumbents Andre Carson, D-Seventh District, and Todd Young, R-Ninth District, are up for re-election. Carson is challenged by Republican Catherine “Cat” Ping and Libertarian Chris Mayo. Carson won a four-way primary with 89 percent of the vote in May. Ping had a much closer outcome against four GOP opponents with a 32 percent plurality. Young faces Democrat Bill Bailey and Libertarian Mike Frey.
Three Statehouse representative races on the Southside are contested: District 89 incumbent Cindy Kirchhofer, R, vs. Debra Jenkins, D; District 91 incumbent Robert Behning, R, Patrick Lockhart, D; and District 93 incumbent David Frizzell, R, vs. Ryan Guillory, D.
In the secretary of state race, Marion County Clerk Beth White, D, and Karl Tatgenhorst, L, are challenging incumbent Connie Lawson, D.
In key Marion County races, Sheriff John Layton, D, a Southsider, is being challenged by Emmitt Carney, R, and Prosecutor Terry Curry, D, faces Duane Merchant, R.
Three Perry Township races are of interest.
Longtime Small Claims Court Judge Robert Spear, R, faces Amanda Whipple, D. Former City-County Councilor Susie Day, R, of Beech Grove and Jerry Lee Melvin, D, are seeking the trustee’s office. Day defeated incumbent Dale Moriarty with a 55 percent plurality in the May primary. Constable David Taylor is opposed by Michael Dunigan, D, and Jose Mejia, L.
A few school board seats will be contested.
There is a three-way battle among Ed Denning, Stephen Maple and Jon Morris for the District 1 seat in Perry Township. Board members in Franklin Township and Beech Grove are unopposed.
Greenwood board candidates Mike Metzger and Nick Schwab are competing for the at-large seat held by Shirley Roscoe, who is serving her last term.
Voters in the Center Grove school district can choose from incumbents Scott Alexander, Adam Norman and Jack Russell and challenger Elisa Horne for three at-large seats.
In Johnson County, all Republican officeholders up for re-election are unopposed.
Voter information
Voters must present a valid photo identification at the polls. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be open from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday and on Election Day at 6 a.m. to issue photo IDs. Voters may obtain information by calling or 327-5100 461-8683 or visiting www.Indiana Voters.com.
Marion County residents may vote early at the clerk’s office, Room W-122 of the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 8 a.m.-noon Monday. Call 327-5100 or visit www.IndianaVoters.com for more information.
Voters may call their ballots early at the Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m.-noon Monday. Vote centers at Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria, I-65 and Main Street, Mount Pleasant Christian Church and Mount Pleasant Christian Church, 383 N. Bluff Road, are open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Friday and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Call 346-4467 for information.
The following vote centers will be open on Election Day in the Greenwood area: Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria; Mount Pleasant Christian Church; White River Library, 1664 Library Blvd.; Greenwood Community Center, 100 Surina Way; Rocklane Christian Church, 4430 Rocklane Road; Mount Auburn Methodist Church, 3100 W. Stones Crossing Road; Greenwood Christian Church, 2045 Averitt Road; Community Church of Greenwood, 1477 W. Main St.; and the White River trustee’s office, 299 S. Morgantown Road.
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