GREENFIELD — As the Libertarian and Democratic parties in Hancock County finalize plans for the general election, several independent candidates have filed to run for municipal office in November.
Parties have until June 30 to select a candidate to fill vacancies on November’s ballot resulting from no candidate being nominated during the primary, Hancock County Clerk Marcia Moore said.
Independent or minor candidates have until then to file a petition of nomination — with signatures from residents — to declare their intent to run for office.
Several independent candidates have already filed in Shirley, Wilkinson, Fortville and Cumberland.
Fortville resident Patrick Calhoun filed as an independent candidate in the race for Fortville Town Council District 1. There are two District 1 seats up for grabs, and Janet Miles Manship and Ron Stafford, both Republicans, are already on the ballot.
Teresa Hester has turned in paperwork to run for Shirley clerk-treasurer as an independent candidate, and Rebecca Perkins filed for the southward Shirley Town Council seat.
Janette Young is running for Wilkinson clerk-treasurer as an independent candidate, and Dennis Fisher is running for an at-large seat on the Wilkinson Town Council.
No independents have filed to run for any municipal offices in Greenfield, and the Democratic and Libertarian parties have yet to nominate any candidates for Greenfield mayor or clerk-treasurer.
Currently, only a few Democrats are seeking local office, including Michael Tucker, who is running against incumbent Gary McDaniel for the District 1 Greenfield City Council seat.
In Cumberland, Democrat Leroy Wheeler is running for town judge and Mark Reynold is running for the District 4 seat on the Cumberland Town Council. Neither race is contested at this time.
Hancock County Democratic Party chairman Phil Hunt said the party is primarily focused on finding candidates to run for town and city council seats. Should Democrats wish to run for any municipal office, the party would be happy to hear from them, he said.
“We haven’t got anybody lined up, but we’re still trying,” Hunt said. “It doesn’t seem like there’s much interest, try as we may.”
One Libertarian candidate has filed to run for office in Cumberland.
Albert Tartaglia recently filed campaign papers with the Marion County Election Office to run for the District 5 Cumberland Town Council seat.
He’ll face incumbent Joe Siefker, who currently serves as the council’s president.
Andrew Smith, treasurer of Hancock County’s Libertarian Party, said the party has slated no other candidates at this time.
There’s still two weeks for the party to meet and select candidates, he said, and party officials might slate an additional candidate or two before then.
“We would certainly like to give voters an option,” he said.
If a party decides it wants to task its chairman with the responsibility of slating a candidate without conducting a formal party meeting, the party has until July 6 to file the needed paperwork, Moore said.
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Tuesday, June 30
Deadline for the Democratic or Republican Party to select a candidate to fill a vacancy on the municipal election ballot due to a vacancy resulting from no candidate being nominated at the primary.
Deadline for an independent or minor party candidate must file a petition of nomination for verification of petition signatures.
Deadline for the Libertarian Party to conduct a convention to nominate candidates for city and large town or to fill a ballot vacancy.
Monday, July 6
Deadline for Democratic or Republican Party to file proper paperwork stating a vacancy on the municipal election ballot has been filled.
Deadline for the Libertarian Party to certify city and large town candidates nominated at convention.
Wednesday, July 15
Deadline for any candidate to voluntarily withdraw from the municipal election ballot.
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