County Officials Set To Be Sworn In At End Of Month

When Crawford County’s office holders are sworn in at the end of 2022, it will mostly be the same group that has led the past four years.

Steve Black, the incoming presiding commissioner, will be the only new official.

Potential Republican candidates sat on the sidelines in the August primary and with Democrats facing long odds in a deep red area, the November election was a mere formality.

Black, who won a three-way primary against incumbent Leo Sanders and Todd Hickey, achieved what has become a rare feat in Crawford County — toppling an incumbent.

Sanders has been in office since 2011 and turned away challengers in 2014 and 2018. He has been part of a group that successfully pushed through a sales tax boost in 2018 and its permanence in 2022, but voters went for Black.

It is unclear when the last time an incumbent lost in Crawford County as election data is not readily available. While officials draw fierce criticism at county meetings, candidates rarely emerge to challenge them.

In the 2022 primary, Associate Judge Patrick Horsefield, County Clerk John Martin, Circuit Court Clerk Karen Harlan, Recorder Kim Cook, Collector Pat Schwent, Treasurer Karen Sikes and Prosecuting Attorney David Smith were unopposed.

There were several elections during the 2018 primary, but they were contested over open seats. 

Scott Bernstein opted not to run again as associate judge, clearing the way for Horsefield to win a primary against Kristopher Crews.

Smith, who worked in the prosecuting attorney’s office, defeated Susan Bell in the primary and ascended to take over for Kent Howald. Howald retired.

Sikes ran against Angela Brown, taking over for Catie Ringeisen, who opted not to run again.

Schwent had resigned as collector in March 2018 due to an ethics violation, but she regained her seat by defeating Allen Teal in the primary.

Martin, Harlan and Cook were all unopposed that year.