(From left) Charles, Dennis, George, Christen, (front row) Paul and Henry Quakenbush. (Reporter photo by Stu Clampitt)
“It’s humbling. Me and my whole campaign team spent many hours walking door to door. Winning means the folks I talked to have confidence that this guy will do what he says he’s going to do.” – State District 29 Republican Nominee Chuck Goodrich
by
Fred Swift
Hamilton County Reporter
There will soon be a new sheriff in town. His name is Dennis Quakenbush, a youthful, well-educated career lawman who is new on the Hamilton County political scene. He bested his nearest opponent, Bill Clifford, by about 1,400 votes in yesterday’s Republican primary election, and likely faces no opposition in the upcoming general election. Other candidates in the spirited, four-way sheriff’s race to take the place of retiring Sheriff Mark Bowen were Mitch Russell and Eddie Moore.
There will also be a new judge in court come January. Mike Casati defeated Will Riley in another reasonably close race by about 2,300 votes out of 32,000 cast in the GOP primary. Finishing third in the judge’s race was Jeff Heinzmann. Casati will take the bench in January from retiring Judge Steve Nation in Superior Court 1.
(From left) Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt, Lori Schwartz, Steve Schwartz and Pete Schwartz. “I feel great. I’m glad it’s over. It’s actually been a fun campaign but a lot of work. I have a lot of people I’d like to thank: My family, number one, and all the supporters, all the volunteers, all the people that endorsed me. I will make them very proud.” – Hamilton County Councilman Steve Schwartz (Reporter photo by Jeff Jellison)
Retiring from office at the end of the year besides Judge Nation and Sheriff Bowen is State Rep. Kathy Richardson. Her seat will likely be taken by Chuck Goodrich, another newcomer to local politics. He finished first in a field of four candidates that included Greg O’Connor, Brad Beaver and Garen Bragg. Like the others, Goodrich likely faces little to no opposition in November in an overwhelmingly Republican Hamilton County.
Another major result of yesterday’s voting was the shift in factional control of the County Council. The current line-up has members Paul Ayers, Brad Beaver, Fred Glynn and Rick McKinney often voting together on controversial issues, while Steve Schwartz, Amy Massilamany, Jeff Hern often compose the other bloc. Since Ayers is retiring, a new council nominee, Ken Alexander who won yesterday, is viewed as likely to side with the Schwartz group. Both Glynn and Schwartz won re-nomination in the primary.
Despite several competitive races, less than 19 percent of the county’s voters went to the polls. Of the 43,021 who voted, 32,100 asked for a Republican ballot and 8,300, Democratic. The election went very smoothly and the returns were posted in record time. Moments before 9 p.m. Election Administrator Kathy Richardson attributed the rapid count of votes in part to new electronic poll pads along with a hard working staff and a lack of problems with the voting machines in the 221 county precincts.
(From left) Nicole Duncan, Robyn Cook and Audra Shock. “I want to say first and foremost, God gets the glory. If He wants it to happen, it will. I am so overwhelmed. We wouldn’t be here without my husband, my family and my amazing supporters. I want everyone to know I will do my best to unite our communities and work together.”– Jackson Township Trustee Republican Nominee Robyn Cook (Photo provided)
In the furious statewide fight for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senator, Mike Braun rather easily defeated Luke Messer and Todd Rokita in the Hamilton County voting. Braun polled more than 42 percent of the 32,192 votes cast in the hard fought race.
Results of all races on the county and township ballot can be found below.
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RESULTS
FEDERAL OFFICES
(R) United States Senator (VOTE FOR 1)
13,666 42.45% MIKE BRAUN
9,964 30.95% LUKE MESSER
8,562 26.60% TODD ROKITA
(R) US Representative District 5 (VOTE FOR 1)
29,994 100.00% SUSAN W. BROOKS
STATE OFFICES
(R) State Senator District 21 (VOTE FOR 1)
2,516 100.00% JAMES R. BUCK
(R) State Senator District 29 (VOTE FOR 1)
2,358 54.80% MIKE DELPH
1,945 45.20% CORRIE MEYER
(R) State Senator District 31 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,553 35.13% CRYSTAL D. LaMOTTE
2,868 64.87% JAMES W. MERRITT, JR.
(R) State Rep District 24 (VOTE FOR 1)
4,206 100.00% DONNA SCHAIBLEY
(R) State Rep District 29 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,614 20.12% BRANDON (BRAD) BEAVER
745 9.29% GAREN T. BRAGG
3,748 46.72% CHUCK GOODRICH
1,916 23.88% GREGORY P. O’CONNOR
(R) State Rep District 32 (VOTE FOR 1)
3,837 100.00% ANTHONY J. (“TONY”) COOK
(R) State Rep District 37 (VOTE FOR 1)
4,736 100.00% TODD HUSTON
(R) State Rep District 39 (VOTE FOR 1)
3,676 43.15% TOM LINKMEYER
4,843 56.85% JERRY TORR
(R) State Rep District 88 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,284 100.00% BRIAN C. BOSMA
COUNTY OFFICES – JUDICIAL
(R) Sup Court Judge No. 1 (VOTE FOR 1)
12,269 40.73% MICHAEL A. CASATI
7,888 26.18% JEFFREY M. HEINZMANN
9,968 33.09% WILL RILEY
(R) Sup Court Judge No. 6 (VOTE FOR 1)
26,881 100.00% GAIL BARDACH
(R) Prosecuting Attorney (VOTE FOR 1)
26,694 100.00% D. LEE BUCKINGHAM II
(R) Circuit Court Clerk (VOTE FOR 1)
27,684 100.00% KATHY KREAG RICHARDSON
COUNTY OFFICES – EXECUTIVE
(R) County Recorder (VOTE FOR 1)
26,602 100.00% JENNIFER HAYDEN
(R) County Sheriff (VOTE FOR 1)
12,619 38.91% BILL CLIFFORD
2,166 6.68% EDDIE MOORE
14,053 43.33% DENNIS QUAKENBUSH
3,594 11.08% MITCHELL RUSSELL
(R) County Coroner (VOTE FOR 1)
27,720 100.00% JOHN R. CHALFIN
(R) County Assessor (VOTE FOR 1)
27,909 100.00% ROBIN L. WARD
(R) Co Commissioner Dist 1 (VOTE FOR 1)
17,599 61.04% CHRISTINE ALTMAN
11,231 38.96% MATT MILAM
COUNTY OFFICES – LEGISLATIVE
(R) County Council District 1 (VOTE FOR 1)
4,067 50.87% FRED GLYNN
3,928 49.13% SUE MAKI
(R) County Council District 2 (VOTE FOR 1)
4,852 100.00% AMY ELIZABETH MASSILLAMANY
(R) County Council District 3 (VOTE FOR 1)
4,278 45.05% MARK F. HALL
5,218 54.95% STEVE SCHWARTZ
(R) County Council District 4 (VOTE FOR 1)
2,852 34.79% KEN ALEXANDER
500 6.10% SHELDON BARNES
2,468 30.11% CHRISTINE PAULEY
2,377 29.00% RICK SHARP
TOWNSHIP OFFICES
(R) Adams Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
605 100.00% JOHN PATRICK
(R) Adams Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
445 31.67% FLOYD H. BARKER
507 36.09% GAIL E. GODBY
453 32.24% RONALD STONE
(R) Clay Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
8,596 100.00% DOUGLAS CALLAHAN
(R) Clay Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
5,111 22.00% PAUL K. BOLIN
6,682 28.76% MARY ECKARD
5,137 22.11% PAUL D. HENSEL
6,303 27.13% MATTHEW J. SNYDER
(R) Delaware Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
2,024 100.00% DEBBIE DRISKELL
(R) Delaware Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
1,170 22.75% RICK FAIN
1,173 22.81% DAVID GIFFEL
1,284 24.97% ED PIERCE
1,516 29.48% MARILYN A. SCHENKEL
(R) Fall Creek Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
2,893 75.71% DOUG ALLMAN
928 24.29% BEN SLOTA
(R) Fall Creek Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
2,190 21.93% BRIAN BAEHL
1,538 15.40% MICHAEL J. BROWN
1,931 19.33% GREG DEWALD
1,813 18.15% CHAD GARRARD
2,516 25.19% JASON MEYER
(R) Jackson Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
1,105 58.93% ROBYN COOK
770 41.07% CHRISTINA (CHRIS) MILLER
(R) Jackson Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
1,202 28.79% JERRY G. COOK
937 22.44% LIZ FOLEY NELSON
1,074 25.72% JEFF ROBERTS
962 23.04% GLEN SCHWARTZ
(R) Noblesville Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
5,605 100.00% TOM KENLEY
(R) Noblesville Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
1,231 7.60% RAY ADE, JR.
3,375 20.85% JOE ARROWOOD
1,793 11.08% J.B. BACHMAN
2,838 17.53% TERRY L. BUSBY
3,100 19.15% JOHN B. DAVIS
3,852 23.79% PEGGY R. PFISTER
(R) Washington Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
1,840 44.39% MARLA AILOR
2,305 55.61% DANIELLE CAREY TOLAN
(R) Washington Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
1,808 16.22% DANYELE EASTERHAUS
1,014 9.10% JEANNINE K. FORTIER
1,603 14.38% DAVID D. GILL
664 5.96% RICHARD J. HARDCASTLE, JR
1,558 13.98% STACY LONDON
1,433 12.86% CHERYL McKINNEY
1,186 10.64% GARY SOUTHERLAND
1,878 16.85% ERICA STRAHM
(R) Wayne Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
485 100.00% DIANE CRIM
(R) Wayne Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
243 16.09% PHIL BELCHER
339 22.45% ROBERT BRENT HIDAY
275 18.21% ROBERT DUSTIN HIDAY
293 19.40% STACY MAHAN
360 23.84% LAURA McNAMARA
(R) White River Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
395 100.00% JAMIE RULON
(R) White River Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
286 32.32% WILLIAM BURKHARDT
316 35.71% LISA SUZANNE FLANDERS
283 31.98% DONNA GENTRY
TOWN OFFICES
(R) Atlanta Council At Lg (VOTE FOR 2)
68 44.16% MURRY A. DIXON, II
86 55.84% PAM VANHOOK
(R) Cicero Council At Lg (VOTE FOR 2)
519 31.25% CHAD AMOS
122 7.34% MICHAEL W. McCONNELL
360 21.67% RITA D. SMITH
660 39.74% DAN STRONG
(R) Sheridan Council At Lg (VOTE FOR 2)
164 27.80% DANIEL BRAGG
180 30.51% BILL CURL
183 31.02% STEVE FISHER
63 10.68% JIMMY D. RAMSEY
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RESULTS
FEDERAL OFFICES
(D) United States Senator (VOTE FOR 1)
8,377 100.00% JOE DONNELLY
(D) US Representative District 5 (VOTE FOR 1)
815 10.05% DION DOUGLAS
462 5.70% SEAN DUGDALE
804 9.91% ESHEL FARAGGI
1,835 22.62% KYLE MOORE
4,196 51.73% DEE THORNTON
STATE OFFICES
(D) State Senator District 21 (VOTE FOR 1)
337 100.00% CHRISTINA FIVECOATE
(D) State Senator District 29 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,214 100.00% J.D. FORD
(D) State Senator District 31 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,465 100.00% DEREK CAMP
(D) State Rep District 24 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,286 100.00% NAOMI S. BECHTOLD
(D) State Rep District 29 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,535 100.00% TRACY M ROBERTS
(D) State Rep District 32 (VOTE FOR 1)
591 100.00% AMY NEILING
(D) State Rep District 37 (VOTE FOR 1)
2,020 100.00% AIMEE RIVERA COLE
(D) State Rep District 39 (VOTE FOR 1)
2,227 100.00% MARK C HINTON
(D) State Rep District 88 (VOTE FOR 1)
378 100.00% POONAM GILL
COUNTY OFFICES – LEGISLATIVE
(D) County Council District 1 (VOTE FOR 1)
2,180 100.00% JEREMY ELTZ
(D) County Council District 3 (VOTE FOR 1)
873 54.94% JEREMY HAWK
716 45.06% GREGG A. WERLING
(D) County Council District 4 (VOTE FOR 1)
1,866 100.00% WILLIAM L. HOWARD, II
TOWNSHIP OFFICES
(D) Clay Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
2,079 31.67% KEVIN PATTERSON
1,981 30.18% MICHAEL R. SWEETEN
2,505 38.16% ERIN VAHRENKAMP
(D) Delaware Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
746 30.85% DAYNA COLBERT
376 15.55% KENT S. NELSON
637 26.34% MARY E. RAY
659 27.25% BIANCA ZAKLIKOWSKI
(D) Jackson Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
215 100.00% NICOLE DUNCAN
(D) Noblesville Twp Trustee (VOTE FOR 1)
1,177 100.00% HEATHER ROLINSKI
(D) Noblesville Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
904 50.03% JILL T. CREHAN
903 49.97% PAULA JO GILLIAM
(D) Washington Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
915 100.00% SHELLY A. BROWN
(D) Wayne Twp Board (VOTE FOR 3)
168 100.00% BRANDY BAST
TOWN OFFICES
(D) Atlanta Council At Lg (VOTE FOR 2)
17 100.00% LEA TOLLEY