By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – Beginning in one week, individuals will begin filing paperwork for the 2018 Primary Election.
There are 10 Wabash County seats up for election in 2018, while seven township trustees and boards also are on the ballot.
In addition, five state offices are up for election, as are two federal posts.
“The first day to file for candidacy is Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, here in my office,” County Clerk Elaine Martin told The Paper of Wabash County. “The deadline is noon on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018.
“We have candidate packets available and ready to go here in my office for anyone interested in filing for office.”
Independent candidates will not appear on the Primary Election ballot, Martin noted.
“The first day an independent or minor party candidate may file their petition of nomination for the general election is on Wednesday, Jan 10, 2018,” she said. “The deadline is Monday, July 2, 2018, at 12 noon.”
Voter registration is open until Monday, April 9, 2018.
“Early voting will begin in my office on Tuesday, April 10, 2018,” Martin said. “We also put this type of information on our Facebook page: Wabash County Elections & Voter Registration.”
Wabash County offices up for election this year are:
Prosecuting Attorney.
Clerk of the Circuit Court.
County Recorder.
County Sheriff.
County Assessor.
County Commissioner — District 2.
County Council – District 1.
County Council – District 2
County Council – District 3
County Council – District 4.
Township trustee posts for Chester, Lagro, Liberty, Noble, Paw Paw, Pleasant and Waltz townships are up for election, as are trustee board posts for the seven townships.
On the state level, Secretary of State, State Auditor and State Treasurer are up for election, as is the Indiana House of Representative District 18 post now held by Republican David Wolkins, and the Indiana Senate District 17 seat now held by Republican Andy Zay.
On the federal level, the U.S. House of Representatives’ 2nd District seat now held by Republican Jackie Walorski is up for election, as is the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Joe Donnelly.
The Primary Election will take place Tuesday, May 8, 2018, while the General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.
In the November General Election, seats on the Manchester Community Schools Board and the MSD of Wabash County School Board will be decided.
The first day for school board candidates to file for election is Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The deadline for filing is noon, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018.
In the Manchester Community Schools District, seats now filled by Sally Krouse, Brian Schilling, Timothy McLaughlin and Nathan Trump are up for election.
The Manchester board is divided into three districts: Chester Township (Chester 1 and 2), Pleasant Township (Pleasant 1 and 2) and the Town of North Manchester, Chester 3, 4, 5 and 6).
Candidates are elected by an at-large vote by all registered voters in the MCS school district. Nominating petitions must by signed by 10 people who are registered voters within the MCS district.
In the Metro district, Northeast District seat now filled by Matt Driscoll and the Northwest District seat now filled by Todd Dazey are up for election.
The Northeast District is bounded on the north by State Road 16, on the east by the Wabash and Huntington county line, on the South by State Road 124 and on the west by State Road 13.
The Northwest District is bounded on the north by Pleasant Township, on the east by State Road 13, on the south by State Road 124 and on the west by the Wabash and Miami county line.
Voting precincts for the Northeast District are Lagro 1, 2 and 3 and part of Noble 10. Voting precincts for the Northwest District are Paw Paw and parts of Noble 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10, and Noble 9 and 11.
At least one member, but no more than two, must be elected from each of the MSD board districts. The three remaining board members each reside in one of the districts, so one candidate from the Northeast and one from the Northwest will be elected this year.
Nominating petitions must have 12 signatures, and may be signed by voters within the district in which the candidate is running.