City Gearing Up For Fall Election; Early Voting Begins Oct. 25

The City of Salem is gearing up for its general election on Tuesday, Nov. 7 with a full slate of candidates on both sides as well as two Libertarian candidates.

Voter registration ends at midnight on October 10 while early voting begins at 8a on October 25. 

According to Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey, voters can cast their ballots early from 8a-Noon and 1-4p Monday thru Friday at the Election and Voter Services Office at 801 South Jackson Street in Salem, Suite 102.

Other dates to keep in mind include:

• October 28^th and November 4^th– Early Voting Saturdays- 8- Noon
• November 4^th at 10am- Poll worker training- Held in Circuit Court
• November 6^th– Early Voting ends at Noon.
• November 7^th- Election Day! Polls are open 6am-6pm. Salem Armory.

There were only two contested races in the primary — between Republican Incumbent Mayor Justin Green and former Indiana House of Representatives District 73 member J. Michael Davisson, who held the seat for just over a year — and Randy Lee Jr. and Gail Napier for the City Council District 4 seat. 

Lee and Green will face challengers in the fall election. 

While there weren’t any Democratic candidates running in the spring primary, several have been certified and added to the ballot for the fall. 

Green will now be challenged by William “Bill” Ackerman (D) and Tommy Brown III, the first Libertarian candidate for Mayor in Salem’s history. 

Green defeated Ackerman by 572 votes in November 2019. Ackerman later sued Green based on an issue of Green’s residency but lost the legal action and Green was affirmed as Mayor in 2020. 

Incumbent Republican Sally Hattabaugh, City Clerk-Treasurer, is seeking another term and will face Democratic candidate Erin A. Bontrager. 

For City Council, District 1, Republican Incumbent Dan R. Linda will face Democratic challenger Billy Thompson. 

For Council District 3, Republican Primary winner Dylan M. Moore will face Democratic challenger Paul L. Holsapple along with Libertarian Tina Ransom. 

Republican Incumbent Steve Crane, City Council District 3, will face Democratic challenger Mia Leonard. 

Republican candidate for City Council District 4 Randy Lee Jr, who defeated Gail Napier in the spring, will face Democratic challenger Renee L. Mather. 

Roger K. Pennington, Republican candidate for City Council at Large, will face Democratic candidate Julie Morgan Thixton. 

WSLM will provide live coverage of the election returns on November 7.