Meet The Candidates Night July 24

A Meet the Candidates night will be held Tuesday, July 24 at Cuba High School for those running in the Aug. 7 primary.

The event is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Voters will be able to ask questions of the county or state candidates who desire to attend.

The Aug. 7 primary will likely determine county officeholders in the next term since there are no Democratic candidates who filed.

Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders will seek a third term against Diana Ijames. This was initially a three-way competition involving former District 1 Commissioner Richard Martin. Martin was disqualified from the ballot last spring due to not filing complete paperwork.

Prosecuting Attorney Kent Howald is not seeking reelection and will be succeeded by David Smith or Susan Bell.

Smith is currently an assistant prosecuting attorney in Crawford County.

This also was a three-way race, but Brant Shockley withdrew.

Former collector Pat Schwent is looking for a third term after stepping down from her position due to an ethics violation in March. Schwent, who was hired back as an employee, is being challenged by Allen Teal. 

A new associate judge will be decided after Scott Bernstein decided to run for circuit judge, opening up the seat for two Republicans — Kristopher Crews and Patrick Horsefield. 

Treasurer Catie Ringeisen opted not to seek another term and will likely be succeeded by Angela Brown or Karen Sikes.

Three candidates — County Clerk John Martin, Circuit Clerk Karen Harlan and Recorder of Deeds Kim Cook — are unopposed in the Republican primary and will likely hold on to their seats in January.