Franklin Co. voters weigh in
November 16, 2022 at 7:42 p.m.
The 2022 midterm elections came to the finish line last Tuesday with voters heading to the polls at various sites around Franklin County.
Republican US Senator Todd Young was challenged by Democrat Thomas McDermott and Libertarian James Sceniak. Young retained office, winning the county with 80.4% of the vote; McDermott captured 16.8% and Sceniak 2.8%.
Former state senator Erin Houchin (R-Salem) won her bid for the recently redrawn 9th Congressional District, defeating Democrat Matthew Fyfe and Libertarian Tonya Millis. Houchin's share of Franklin Co. was 81.1%; Fyfe received 17% and Millis 1.9%.
Republicans Diego Morales, Daniel Elliott and Tera Klutz were triumphant in the secretary of state, state treasurer and state auditor races, respectively. Locally, Morales secured 77.2%, Klutz 80.9% and Elliott 81.9%. Democrat Destiny Wells had 18.2% for secretary of state (Libertarian Jeffrey Maurer 4.7%), Dem ZeNai Brooks got 16.1% for auditor (Libertarian John Andrew Schick 3%) and Democrat Jessica McClellan had 18.1% for treasurer.
Republican Lindsay Patterson was unopposed for Indiana House District 55. For state senate Dist. 27, Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) was aiming to hold onto his seat against Democrat challenger Dr. Ronald Itnyre. Raatz; did just that, securing 85% of the vote locally to Itnyre's 15%.
Unopposed Republicans included Christopher Huerkamp (prosecutor), Neysa Raible (clerk), Karla Bauman (auditor), Peter Cates (sheriff), Brian Baxter (coroner), Debbie Schoettelkotte (assessor), John Heis (commissioner Dist. 2), Gerald Wendel (commissioner Dist. 1), county council president Jeff Koch (Dist. 3), council Dist. 1 and 2 (Mary Strong and Dean McQueen, respectively), Joe Herbert (Ray Township Trustee), Roy Hall (Whitewater Twp. Trustee) and Mike Ferman (Metamora Twp. Trustee).
Democrats Butch Flaspohler (Butler Twp. Trustee), June Shepler (Blooming Grove Twp. Trustee), Stephanie Tolhurst (Springfield Twp. Trustee), Angie Nobbe (Fairfield Twp. Trustee) and Art Defossett, Jr. (Highland Twp. Trustee) were likewise unopposed.
Bob Evans defeated incumbent Joe Gillespie (63.3%-36.7%) for county council Dist. 4 that encompasses Brookville Township. Gillespie was the only current Democrat holding a countywide position.
Laurel, Posey and Brookville townships each had multiple selections for township trustee. In Laurel, Republican Tonja French (56.1%) was favored over Democrat Bradley Spurlock (22.2%) and Independent Charles Gerrian (21.7%). In Brookville, Republican Irv Vonderheide knocked off Democrat Kit Flaspohler (64.9%-35.1%). Posey saw Republican Tim Hollars defeating Independent India Lynn Burris, who was unable to garner one vote.
A public question in the Town of Brookville officially read: “Shall the number of Town Council members for the Town of Brookville, Indiana, be increased from five (5) to seven (7)?” Voters decidedly chose “no” as over 75% of town residents selected that box. Joining that council are Republican newcomers Bridget C. Hayes (648 total votes for Ward 2) and Earl Moore (597 votes for Ward 4).
Incumbents Terry Bryant and Beth Foster were looking to return to the Franklin County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, as were seven at-large challengers. Newcomers Kevin Kaiser and Brandy Wilson were top vote-getters with 2,236 and 2,054 votes, respectively. Foster was the third and final winner, gathering 2,032 votes. Bryant was next at 1,699, followed by Joel Biltz (1,512), Mary Keck (1,123), Sean Berns (1,005), Adrienne Greene (882) and current county councilman Scott McDonough (616).
Three-person township advisory boards include the following: Bath (Democrats Roy J. Chesnut and Gregory D. Rosenberger), Blooming Grove (Republicans Kyle Hildebrand and Neil Whittington and Democrat Jeffrey M. Sauerland), Brookville (Republicans Gary D. Dorrel, Cindy K. Hall and Roger J. Bommer), Butler (Democrats Teresa L. Fledderman, John V. Obermeyer and Melvin A. Pulskamp), Fairfield (Democrats Velda M. Clark, Laura Hodapp and Delores Dobbs), Highland (Republican Michael E. Kohlsdorf and Democrats Michael Hoog and Stephen A. Haas), Laurel (Republican L. Joe Combs and Democrat Jordan A. Cox), Metamora (Republicans Larry Ferman and Scott L. Lyle and Democrat Gary R. Baker), Posey (Republicans Roger L. McQueen and R. Dakota L. Hollers and Democrat Annette Hunter), Ray (Democrat Lawrence K. Bedel and Republican John Livers), Springfield (Republicans Jeffery G. Dorrel and Ervin E. Roberts and Democrat Cecil Bruns) and Whitewater (Republicans Larry H. Bolser, Dee Ann Harding and Rosella Goodin).
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The 2022 midterm elections came to the finish line last Tuesday with voters heading to the polls at various sites around Franklin County.
Republican US Senator Todd Young was challenged by Democrat Thomas McDermott and Libertarian James Sceniak. Young retained office, winning the county with 80.4% of the vote; McDermott captured 16.8% and Sceniak 2.8%.
Former state senator Erin Houchin (R-Salem) won her bid for the recently redrawn 9th Congressional District, defeating Democrat Matthew Fyfe and Libertarian Tonya Millis. Houchin's share of Franklin Co. was 81.1%; Fyfe received 17% and Millis 1.9%.
Republicans Diego Morales, Daniel Elliott and Tera Klutz were triumphant in the secretary of state, state treasurer and state auditor races, respectively. Locally, Morales secured 77.2%, Klutz 80.9% and Elliott 81.9%. Democrat Destiny Wells had 18.2% for secretary of state (Libertarian Jeffrey Maurer 4.7%), Dem ZeNai Brooks got 16.1% for auditor (Libertarian John Andrew Schick 3%) and Democrat Jessica McClellan had 18.1% for treasurer.
Republican Lindsay Patterson was unopposed for Indiana House District 55. For state senate Dist. 27, Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) was aiming to hold onto his seat against Democrat challenger Dr. Ronald Itnyre. Raatz; did just that, securing 85% of the vote locally to Itnyre's 15%.
Unopposed Republicans included Christopher Huerkamp (prosecutor), Neysa Raible (clerk), Karla Bauman (auditor), Peter Cates (sheriff), Brian Baxter (coroner), Debbie Schoettelkotte (assessor), John Heis (commissioner Dist. 2), Gerald Wendel (commissioner Dist. 1), county council president Jeff Koch (Dist. 3), council Dist. 1 and 2 (Mary Strong and Dean McQueen, respectively), Joe Herbert (Ray Township Trustee), Roy Hall (Whitewater Twp. Trustee) and Mike Ferman (Metamora Twp. Trustee).
Democrats Butch Flaspohler (Butler Twp. Trustee), June Shepler (Blooming Grove Twp. Trustee), Stephanie Tolhurst (Springfield Twp. Trustee), Angie Nobbe (Fairfield Twp. Trustee) and Art Defossett, Jr. (Highland Twp. Trustee) were likewise unopposed.
Bob Evans defeated incumbent Joe Gillespie (63.3%-36.7%) for county council Dist. 4 that encompasses Brookville Township. Gillespie was the only current Democrat holding a countywide position.
Laurel, Posey and Brookville townships each had multiple selections for township trustee. In Laurel, Republican Tonja French (56.1%) was favored over Democrat Bradley Spurlock (22.2%) and Independent Charles Gerrian (21.7%). In Brookville, Republican Irv Vonderheide knocked off Democrat Kit Flaspohler (64.9%-35.1%). Posey saw Republican Tim Hollars defeating Independent India Lynn Burris, who was unable to garner one vote.
A public question in the Town of Brookville officially read: “Shall the number of Town Council members for the Town of Brookville, Indiana, be increased from five (5) to seven (7)?” Voters decidedly chose “no” as over 75% of town residents selected that box. Joining that council are Republican newcomers Bridget C. Hayes (648 total votes for Ward 2) and Earl Moore (597 votes for Ward 4).
Incumbents Terry Bryant and Beth Foster were looking to return to the Franklin County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, as were seven at-large challengers. Newcomers Kevin Kaiser and Brandy Wilson were top vote-getters with 2,236 and 2,054 votes, respectively. Foster was the third and final winner, gathering 2,032 votes. Bryant was next at 1,699, followed by Joel Biltz (1,512), Mary Keck (1,123), Sean Berns (1,005), Adrienne Greene (882) and current county councilman Scott McDonough (616).
Three-person township advisory boards include the following: Bath (Democrats Roy J. Chesnut and Gregory D. Rosenberger), Blooming Grove (Republicans Kyle Hildebrand and Neil Whittington and Democrat Jeffrey M. Sauerland), Brookville (Republicans Gary D. Dorrel, Cindy K. Hall and Roger J. Bommer), Butler (Democrats Teresa L. Fledderman, John V. Obermeyer and Melvin A. Pulskamp), Fairfield (Democrats Velda M. Clark, Laura Hodapp and Delores Dobbs), Highland (Republican Michael E. Kohlsdorf and Democrats Michael Hoog and Stephen A. Haas), Laurel (Republican L. Joe Combs and Democrat Jordan A. Cox), Metamora (Republicans Larry Ferman and Scott L. Lyle and Democrat Gary R. Baker), Posey (Republicans Roger L. McQueen and R. Dakota L. Hollers and Democrat Annette Hunter), Ray (Democrat Lawrence K. Bedel and Republican John Livers), Springfield (Republicans Jeffery G. Dorrel and Ervin E. Roberts and Democrat Cecil Bruns) and Whitewater (Republicans Larry H. Bolser, Dee Ann Harding and Rosella Goodin).