Published: November 02, 2008 10:01 pm      

National race brings out Indiana voters

COVINGTON, Ind. — While Fountain and Warren counties have some interesting county races, the main interest is in the Presidential race.

“We have the commissioners’ races, but there seems to be more interest in the Presidential race,” said Jessica Woodrow, a deputy in the Fountain County clerk’s office. “It is exciting.”

More than 1,000 persons had voted absentee by late last week.

“That is very unusual,” Woodrow said. “We are just swamped.”

Two commissioner races are drawing much attention in Fountain County. Longtime Republican Commissioner Janet Shoaf, an Attica elementary teacher, is challenged by independent Craig Stalter, the owner of restaurants in Covington and Attica.

In the other commissioner race, longtime county highway superintendent Walt Wilson, a Republican, is running against M. Troy Alexander, a Democrat, who works for a well drilling firm and owns a stump removal business. Lowell Osborn is not seek-ing re-election.

The only other race in Fountain County is for the three at-large seats on the county council, where two Democrats, Tom Booe and Cindi Ellis are challenging three Republicans, incumbent Tom Freas and newcomers Becky Harding and Joe Whittington.

“Things are going pretty well,” said a spokeswoman in the Warren County clerk’s house. “We have had about 400 vote absentee.”

One of the key races is for treasurer where Republican Robin Weston-Hubner is challenging incumbent Democrat Gail Altman.

In the only commissioner race in Warren Count Democrat Larry Reynolds is challenging Republican Anton “Tony” Briles. The incumbent was defeated in the primary.

In the county council race for three at-large seats, the two incumbents, Republicans John A. Layton and George Taylor are joined in the race by Republican James Lanham and Democrat Richard L. Dobbels.

In Vermillion County, where very few Republicans run for county office, two are challenging the three incumbents for the three at-large seats on the county council.

Republicans Kathy Clark and Larry D. Stoops, who live in the far north part of the county are challenging the three Democrats, Michael Costello, LaVonna Mattick and Randy Padish.

A spokeswoman in the Vermillion County clerk’s office said that about 600 absentee voters had cast ballots by late last week.



INDIANA POLLS

Polling places in western Indiana will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST Tuesday.