By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – The results of the 2016 Wabash County Primary Election produced what many would call a few surprises on Tuesday night. The Wabash City Schools’ Referendum to help the school district’s General Fund by raising property taxes went down to defeat by only 62 votes. The vote total was 1220 in favor and 1282 against. Wabash City School Superintendent Jason Callahan.
Perhaps another surprise was the “pick 3” Republican race on the Wabash County Council. Two current members of the council, Chairman Mike Ridenour and Vice-Chair Bill Ruppel, went down to defeat because they did not receive enough votes. The top three vote getters in the Wabash County Council race were, Lorissa Sweet at 4024 votes, current member Randy Curless at 3741 votes and Philip Dale at 3107 votes. Lorissa Sweet.
On the presidential side, Donald Trump won the state and came out on top in Wabash County with 3932 votes to Ted Cruz’s 2964 votes. Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton in Wabash County with a total of 1080 votes to 906 votes. In Wabash County, Trump alone received almost twice the number of votes than that Sanders and Clinton combined.
Wabash County went for Republican Marlin Stutzman for US Senate, Jackie Walorski for US Representative from District 2 on the Republican ticket and Lynn Coleman for US Representative from District 2 on the Democratic ticket. The Wabash County Republican Precinct Committeemen winners were Debora Hoefer, Bob Greene, Todd Dazey and Ann Gillespie
Wabash County Clerk Elaine Martin told MiBash News that voter turnout was impressive for a primary election.
The nearly 43% of registered voters translates to a total of 9658 voters coming out to cast ballots in Wabash County this primary election.
Lorissa Sweet