With very few exceptions Election Night heavily favored Spencer County Republicans, sweeping almost all contested races. Both Democrats on the County Council were defeated, as was incumbent Sheriff Kelli Reinke and Assessor Jane McGinnis. LaVon Case, the Democratic candidate for Gentryville Town Council, did stand out as a victor in a close-fought race between four candidates. In the Santa Claus Council meanwhile, Republican Jason Little retained his seat and Republican Brian Warran secured the seat previously held by Mike Johannes, who was defeated in the May Primary. Democrats did pull off some other downticket wins in the township boards, though Republicans tended to dominate there as well.
Total turnout in Spencer County was 51.38%, a total of 7,758 votes. Of those, 4,898 were Election Day votes, 737 paper absentee and 2,123 walk-in absentee.
Prosecutor
Republican Megan Bennet won the race for Spencer County Prosecutor with 5,036 votes to Democrat Dan Wilkinson’s 2,584, a margin of 66.09% to 33.91%.
County Auditor
Unopposed incumbent Republican Melissa Bunner was returned to office with 6,224 votes.
County Sheriff
Republican Sherri Heichelbech won the race for Spencer County Sheriff with 4,501 votes, or 58.87%. Incumbent Democrat Kelli Reinke secured 3,145 votes, or 41.13% of the total.
County Coroner
Incumbent Republican Layla C. Thayer was returned as Spencer County Coroner with 6,288 votes.
County Assessor
Republican challenger Melissa N. Woolard won the race for Spencer County Assessor with 5,063 votes to incumbent Democrat Jane (Cotton) McGinnis’ 33%.
Commissioner District 1
Incumbent Republican Jim Seiler was unopposed in his re-election bid. He received 6,250 votes.
County Council District 1
Incumbent Republican Steve Haaff saw off a challenge from Democrat Kathy Griepenstroh. Haaff received 1,372 votes, 69.68% of the total. Griepenstroh received 597 votes, or 30.32%.
County Council District 2
Incumbent Republican Susan Kirkpatrick Harris was unopposed in her bid for re-election. She received 1,652 votes.
County Council District 3
Incumbent Democrat Todd Grundhoefer was defeated by Republican David Fromme. Fromme received 1,198 votes, 63.66% of the total. Grundhhoefer received 684 votes, amounting to 36.34%.
County Council District 4
Incumbent Democrat Todd Ruxer was defeated by Republican Justin Grose. Grose received 1,050 votes, or 57.66% of the total. Ruxer received 771 votes, or 42.34%.
Carter Township Trustee
Republican Angie Wahl Schmidt defeated Democrat Adam M. Mix. Schmidt received 668 votes, or 67.2% of the total. Mix received 326 votes, or 32.8%.
Carter Township Board
Republicans swept the Carter Township Board, with Jim Gries, Aaron Hedinger and Stacey Keller receiving 22.4%, 18.62% and 18.1% of the 2,674 total votes respectively. Democrats Edwin J. Balbach, Toni R. Bender and Phyllis L. Oeding received 14.51%, 11.82% and 14.55% respectively.
Clay Township Trustee
Republican Debra D. Kroeger defeated Democrat Ricky Goffinet by 852 votes to 393, or 68.43% to 31.57%.
Clay Township Board
Republicans Michael R. Roos, Gary W. Schroeder and Cindy J. Winchell secured all three seats, receiving 21.18%, 19.88% and 22.21% of the 3,395 total votes. Democrats Joe Asbury, Larry E. Hess and Jennifer Mayhall received 13.58%, 12.43% and 10.72% respectively.
Grass Township Trustee
Democrat LeGeanne (Jeanne) Thomas ran unopposed for re-election. She received 332 votes.
Grass Township Board
Things got a little more complicated in the race for Grass Township Board. Republicans Nicholas Yearby and Raymond Lynam led the pack with 20.68% and 18.12% of the 1,286 total votes. The number three spot, however, went to Democrat Keith Waninger, with 17.57% of the vote. Republican Gary McDaniel received 14.15% and Democrats Steve Winsett and Dianne M. Litkenhus received 12.6% and 16.87%.
Hammond Township Trustee
Republican Jane Lynam ran unopposed for re-election. She received 473 votes.
Hammond Township Board
Republicans ran unopposed for Hammond Township Board. Norman Lloyd Hughes, George Albert Lynam and Sandra K. Snyder received 36.23%, 32.16% and 31.61% of the 1,082 total votes.
Harrison Township Trustee
Republican Tracey Gelarden won the race for Harrison Township Trustee with 396 votes, or 54.55%. Democrat Karen S. Kern received 330 votes, or 45.45%.
Harrison Township Board
Harrison Township Board generated a mixed result. Republican Brenda Buechler received the most votes, 21.55% of the total 1,977. However, the remaining two seats went to Democrats Brenda Kress and Alan R. Waninger with 18.36% and 16.89% respectively. This was a particularly close race, as the remaining Republicans Sally J. Werne Gravatte and Timothy S. Mangum were edged out of the third seat with totals of 16.19% and 16.08% respectively. Democrat Denise Mehringer received 10.93% of the vote.
Huff Township Trustee
Republican Travis Roll won the race for Huff Township Trustee with 199 votes in a close-fought race, edging out Democrat Doris (Jean) Krutz by only two votes.
Huff Township Board
Republicans swept the Huff Township Board’s three seats. Joshua Knepper, Mathew Knepper and David Lautner received 19%, 20.91% and 23.47% respectively from the total 1,095 votes. Democrats Kris Braun, Linda F. Weber and Linda M. Weiss received 15.07%, 8.4% and 13.15% respectively.
Jackson Township Trustee
Democrat Sandra Kay Bender ran unopposed for Jackson Township Trustee. She received 224 votes.
Jackson Township Board
Democrats James H. Anderson, Nicole Griepenstroh and Mary C. Spellmeyer ran unopposed in this race. They received 195, 199 and 201 votes respectively.
Luce Township Trustee
Republican Jeremy Edward Gorman won the race for Luce Township Trustee with 524 votes, or 54.75% of the total. Democrat Bonnie Young received 433 votes, or 45.25%.
Luce Township Board
Republicans swept the Luce Township Board races. William Rick Garrett, Lisa A. Hemmer and Joe Alan Mackey received 20.53%, 21.21% and 17.17% respectively of the 2,499 total votes. Democrats Rocky Lee Martin, John (Woody) Wood and Orville B. Yeager received 11.12%, 9% and 8.52%. Independent candidate David Taylor secured 12.44% of the vote.
Ohio Township Trustee
Republican Brian Burns ran unopposed for Ohio Township Trustee. He received 1,614 votes.
Ohio Township Board
Republicans ran unopposed for all three seats on the Ohio Township Board. Lee Frobeter, Robert Lindsey and Kyle Wilkerson received 32.56%, 34.05% and 33.39% respectively of the 3,771 total votes.
Gentryville Clerk-Treasurer
Democrat Marcia Burdin ran unopposed for Gentryville Clerk-Treasurer. She received 46 votes.
Gentryville Town Council
While small in vote totals, the race for Gentryville Town Council’s three seats was actually one of the closest in the county. Democrat LaVon Case earned the most votes at 32, only one more than Republican Dan Dougherty and two more than Independent Kristen N. Decker. All three of those candidates will take seats on the next town council. Another independent candidate, Kathryn E. Wilder, also held the contest close, securing 25 votes, but failed to secure a seat.
Santa Claus Town Council
Republican Jason Little received the most votes and maintained his seat on the council, with 792 votes and 43.14%. The other seat also went to a Republican, Brian Warran, who edged out Mike Johannes in the Primary earlier this year. Warran secured 571 votes, or 31.10%. Democrat Brooke Schipp Blair failed to secure a seat, but kept the race relatively close at 473 votes, or 25.76%.
North Spencer School Board Races
Carter-Harrison Township
Anna (Annie) Oxley ran unopposed, receiving 3,427 votes.
Clay-Huff-Hammond Township
No Candidate filed.
Grass-Jackson Township
David L. Waninger ran unopposed, receiving 3,243 votes.
South Spencer School Board Races
Hammond Township
George A. Schwoeppe, II ran unopposed, receiving 2,052 votes.
Luce Township Seat 2
In this contested race, Melissa Middleton defeated Zeth Morris 1,630 votes to 929.
Ohio Township Seat 2
Tyler Hermann ran unopposed, receiving 2,377 votes.
