Three Jackson County residents with plans to run for office in the May 7 primary election have visited the county clerk’s office to file declarations of candidacy in recent days.
All 28 of the candidates to file as of Friday morning are Republicans.
The newest filings include incumbent at-large county councilmen John L. Nolting of Brownstown and R. Brett Turner of Crothersville and Surveyor Dan Blann of Brownstown.
The filings by Nolting and Turner set up a four-way race for the three at-large council seats because incumbent at-large Councilwoman Amanda Cunningham Lowery and Roger Hurt of Brownstown both filed for declarations on Jan. 10, the opening day of the filing period.
The only other race on the ballot at this time features Seymour Republicans Bret Cunningham, Michael Bobb and Drew Storey, who are seeking the District 2 county commissioner seat. That position is presently held by Republican Bob Gillaspy, who has decided not to seek a third term.
Other previous filings include Drew Markel of Brownstown, District 1 county commissioner; incumbent Treasurer Kathy Hohenstreiter of Seymour; and Jackson Circuit Court Judge Richard W. Poynter.
At the state level, incumbent House District 69 Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, faces a challenge from Brian Savilla of Brownstown. District 69 includes portions of Jackson, Bartholomew, Scott and Washington counties.
House District 62 Rep. Dave Hall, R-Norman, and House District 65 Rep. Chris D. May, R-Bedford, also will be on the ballot. Both are incumbents.
Democrat Thomas Horrocks is seeking the Democratic Party’s nod for the District 62 nomination.
District 62 includes Owen, Pershing and Salt Creek townships in northwestern Jackson County, all of Brown County and part of southern Monroe County, while District 65 includes Carr Township in Jackson County.
Bedford Republican Eric Koch also is seeking a third four-year term as the District 44 state senator. District 44 includes Brown, Jackson, Lawrence and Orange counties and portions of Monroe County.
New Republican convention filings for Jackson County are Sheriff Rick Meyer and county Clerk Piper Acton-Shoemaker.
The previous GOP convention filings were Melissa Zabel Acton, Conner Barnette, Jim Lucas, Dave Hall, Amanda Cunningham Lowery, Drew Markel and Dustin Steward.
New Republican precinct committee filings were Katie Kaufman for Redding East and Roger Lee Tiepen for Vernon South.
The previous Republican precinct filings were Markel, Brownstown 4; Cunningham Lowery, Driftwood Township; Lucas, Jackson 1 East; Zabel Acton, Jackson 7; Hall, Owen Township; and Steward, Washington Township.
Those wishing to file a declaration of candidacy may visit the county clerk’s office in the Jackson County Judicial Center, 109 S. Sugar St., Brownstown. The filing period ends at noon Feb. 9.