Important Decisions Locally On Election Day

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Voters in southeast Indiana may need a few minutes to fill out their ballots on Election Day.

There is a lot more to decide than president and governor. Voters in Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties will also choose new county commissioners, county council members, school board members, judges, and other offices.

This is a look at the most intriguing races in each local county.

DEARBORN COUNTY

There will be at least one new face on the Dearborn County Board of Commissioners. Democrat Phil Darling is running for office once again in District 1. He faces election first-timer Republican Kevin Lynch.

Democrat Tom Orschell will attempt to retain the District 2 commissioner seat against Republican Art Little.

A full field of six candidates will run for three availabilities on Dearborn County Council At-Large. Republicans are Charlie Keyes, Randy Lyness, and Bill Ullrich, while the Democrat candidates include Andrew Addison, John Johnson, and Teresa Somerlot. Ullrich is the only incumbent.

Voters will pick a new Dearborn Superior Court II judge between incumbent Sally Blankenship and Democrat Alan Miller, a Lawrenceburg attorney.

There are school board races in all three of the school districts in the county.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

A hotly contested race for Franklin Circuit Court Judge will be settled between Republican incumbent Steven Cox and Democrat challenger Brookville attorney Tammy Davis. A lot of claims have been made between the two candidates, mostly centering around Cox’s handling of the past cases involving Laurel Five killer David Ison. Davis was Ison’s defense attorney in his criminal cases prior to the murders. Davis is facing judicial disciplinary charges because of her statements against Cox.

County voters will select three County Council At-Large positions from six candidates: Democrats Robert Bob Brack, Sandra Bischoff Hill, and Carroll W. Lanning and Republicans Daryl Kramer, Dean McQueen, Rebecca Oglesby.

Four Franklin County Community Schools Board of Trustees seats are up for election.

OHIO COUNTY

There are only three elected offices that are contested in Ohio County. Voters will be asked to decide on two school board races. Teacher Melissa Brown Morris runs against incumbent Christopher Whitham in District 2. District 3’s race pits Billy Hayes against Tim Elbright.

At the county level, the only office being contested is Ohio County Treasurer, where Republican incumbent Yvonne Walton is opposed by Democrat Betty Cosby.

RIPLEY COUNTY

Ripley County voters get a wide selection of candidates for County Council At-Large. Three available seats are being sought by six people. The Republicans are Mark A. Horstman, William Warren, and Brenda S. Wetzler. The Democrats at William H. Dramann, Russell Mortara, Everett Lee Thompson.

Republican Mark E. Busching looks to be re-elected as the County Commissioner for District 2. He’ll face a challenge from Vaughn Bowers.

Jac-Cen-Del, South Ripley, Milan, and Batesville schools all have contested school board races.

SWITZERLAND COUNTY

County Council At-Large features six candidates for three openings. Terry L. Hall, Elizabeth "Itsy" Jones, and Rich Lay are the Republicans. Steve Crabtree, Darrell Hansel, and Rachel Bladen Schuler represent the Democrat options.

Five openings will be filled on the Switzerland County school board. Two will be elected for the Town of Vevay district from among Micah Ramsey, Michelle James Thompson, Lloyd Wayne Daugherty, Kathy B. Williams, Lisa D. Scott, and Mary Stogsdill.

Pleasant Township’s school board seat will be awarded to either Tammy M. Hayes or Jim Phipps. Cotton Township district candidates include Bill Roberts, Colleen Lay, and Howard Edwin Haskell. The York Township seat is contested between Tonya Moore, Josh R. Deck, and Gary Reynolds.