Early voting underway for next week's election

Early voting is underway for next week's primary election at the Bartholomew County Courthouse and three satellite locations.

The Bartholomew County Courthouse will have early voting in the voter registration office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and until noon on Monday, May 7th. That is the day before the election.

Satellite voting locations are open at Donner Center, Flintwood Wesleyan Church and at Main Source Bank on Jonathan Moore Pike from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday and from 8 .m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Hope voters of both parties will see two Town Council candidates on their ballot, running for the two at-large seats on the panel. Democrats can cast ballots for both Jerry Bragg and Chelsea Warriner, while Republicans can vote for Clyde Compton and Lou "K." Kujawski. Because there are two seats available on the council, all four candidates will move on to the November general election.

Incumbent County Councilman Chris Ogle opted not to seat re-election for the seat that represents northeastern Bartholomew County. In the Republican primary, Scott Bonnell is running against Marcus Speer. Democrat Hanna Omar is unopposed in next week's primary and will face the winner of that race in the fall election.

The only contested countywide race is for Bartholomew County sheriff. Incumbent Sheriff Matt Myers, is facing challenges from Rob Kittle, a retired deputy and former member of both the County Council and Columbus City Council, and from Tamara "Tami' Watson.

The rest of the countywide races are uncontested and all the candidates are running in the Republican primary. Superior Court Judge Jim Worton, Prosecutor Bill Nash, and County Clerk Jay Phelps have no challengers for the primary of the fall election. Current County Auditor Barb Hackam and County Treasurer Pia O'Connor, will be on the ballot, but running for the others' current job. Former County Clerk Tami Hines is running for County Recorder and Ginny Whipple is running for County Assessor.

Republican voters in northeastern Bartholomew County will see a challenge to incumbent State Rep. Sean Eberhart, of Shelbyville. by Luke Campbell.

The top of the ballot will feature several packed races on the Republican ticket. Congressmen Luke Messer and Todd Rokita are running against businessman and former state Rep. Mike Braun for the U.S. Senate nomination. The winner hopes to unseat Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in the fall.

There is a full slate of candidates running to replace Messer in Congress, including Republicans Jonathan M. Lamb, Stephen M. Mackenzie, Greg Pence and Jeff Smith and Democrats George T. Holland, Jeannine L. Lake, Jasen Lave, Jim Pruett, Lane Siekman and Joshua Williamson. Pence, of Columbus, is the brother of Vice President of Mike Pence.