The filing period for the May 2 primary election ended at noon Friday, leaving the ballot with just two Republican Party contests — one for the mayoral nomination and one for the District 3 city council seat nomination in Seymour.
One of the filings that came in the final days of the period saw a second Democrat candidate added to the mix.
That declaration of candidacy came from Andrew “Drew” Davis, who tossed his hat into the ring for the party’s nomination for the District 1 council seat on Thursday at the voter registration office in the Jackson County Judicial Center in Brownstown.
Davis joins Democrat Tonya Pacey, who filed her declaration of candidacy several days ago for one of the party’s nominations for the two at-large council seats.
Republican Clint Blish also filed a declaration of candidacy for an at-large council seat on Thursday. His filing means the GOP will have a full slate of candidates for the primary.
The biggest race on the ballot will pit Mayor Matt Nicholson, who is completing his first four-year term, against political newcomer Dan Robison, who is the director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
The other race features incumbent Chad Hubbard, who also will wrap up his first four-year term on Dec. 31, facing a challenge from Marcus Sewell for the District 3 city council seat.
Sewell ran as an independent for the seat in the general election in 2018 but lost to Hubbard, who is running for a second four-year term.
Other Republicans seeking reelection to four-year terms are Clerk-Treasurer Darrin Boas, District 1 Councilman Matthew Wheeler, District 2 Councilman Jerry Hackney, District 4 Councilman Seth Davidson and At-Large Councilman Drew Storey.
Also, Seymour Fire Chief Brad Lucas, who plans to retire at the end of the year, has filed for the District 5 council seat.
Other filings during the period were Brownstown Republican Sonya Nale, who is running for Brownstown clerk-treasurer, and Republican Brad McCammon, who is running for one of Medora Town Council’s three seats.
Candidates for council seats and clerk-treasurer in Brownstown, Crothersville and Medora have until Aug. 1 to file declarations of candidacy.
The Democratic and Republican parties will then hold town conventions in August if there is more than one candidate for a seat.
The primary ballot is not finalized until Feb. 10 because candidates have until that day to withdraw their candidacy.
The deadline to register to vote is 4:30 p.m. April 3, while the first day a person can early vote is April 4. To register, visit the county clerk’s office at the Jackson County Judicial Center, 109 S. Sugar St., Brownstown, or visit indianavoters.in.gov.