Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey said this morning on WSLM’s Coffee Club Morning Show that only one percent of Salem voters have cast a ballot in early voting.
That amounts to only 54 of approximately 4,320 registered voters.
Rockey said times are changing and some counties in Indiana are not having primary elections due to uncontested races.
The City of Salem will have two contested races — one for Mayor and one for City Council District 2.
Rocky said she was able to save about $5000 for the City of Salem when the Election Board approved having a Republican-Only Primary.
“With only one Democrat on the ballot in a non-contested race, I recommended not spending the extra money to list one person from only one party on a ballot that doesn’t change the outcome,” she said.
The sole Democratic candidate is Paul L. Holsapple set to run against Republican challenger Dylan M. Moore for City Council District 2.
Tina Ransom will be added to the ballot this fall as a Libertarian also seeking that office.
“The road to the election is never-ending,” said Rockey. We just don’t flip the lights on the day of the election. We are always working on the voter roll for the county. We had the candidate filing in January and once that deadline passes, we start working on ballots.”
Rockey said she locked in the price at 30 cents per ballot.
“We’re under contract with the City of Salem to put on the election. We felt it was best,” she said. “Everything costs money. Everyone’s budget is tight post-pandemic. We made a tough decision and went ahead with it.”
ONLY TWO RACES IN PRIMARY
The only two races in the City of Salem this year are for Mayor. Incumbent Justin Green filed to run for a second term on January 4, the first day for filing.
Green won the election in 2019 and had served on the city council for 12 years previously.
J. Michael Davisson is the Republican challenger. He filed the day before the filing deadline on February 3.
He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing District 73 for just over a year.
He assumed office on October 28, 2021 after he was appointed to fill out the term after the death of his father, Steve.
Davisson left office on November 9, 2022 after having made the decision to run for the Indiana 9th Congressional District seat. He lost in the Republican primary on May 3, 2022, receiving only 2.7 percent of the vote.
Davisson then decided to run for re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives to represent District 69. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on May 3, 2022.
Tommy Brown III will be on the ballot this fall as a Libertarian.
The other contested race will be between incumbent City Council District 4 member Gail Napier and Randy Lee Jr.
Other Republicans on the primary ballot are:
- Sally Hattabaugh, City Clerk-Treasurer
- Dan R. Libka, City Council District 1
- Steve Crane, City Council District 3
- Roger K. Pennington, City Council at Large
Rockey is reminding residents, to make sure you have a plan to get out and vote!
Early Voting in the Election and Voter Services Office at 801 S. Jackson Street will continue from 8-Noon and 1-4 PM Monday through Friday and until Noon on Monday, May 1st.
Early Voting will also take place this Saturday, April 29th from 8-Noon.
Election Day is May 2nd from 6 am to 6 pm.
The polling location is Salem Armory on Shelby Street. The election is for the precinct of Salem I-IV only.
As a reminder, this is a Republican ballot primary only, but all registered voters of the City of Salem may vote regardless of their chosen party, Rockey said.
If you have any questions you may call the Clerk’s office at 812-883-5748.
A valid photo ID is required to vote.
