By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The Adams County Clerk’s office was a busy place January 10 as no less than 11 candidates tossed their names into various hats on the first day to file for office.
All the filers were Republicans and the party already has three races for its May primary, including one for a commissioner seat and another for county council seats.
Steve Kuhn of Geneva, who four years ago upset Doug Bauman for the District 3 seat on the county commission, filed for a new term Wednesday.
Also filing was Geneva-area resident Bauman, who had held the commission berth for 22 years.
So the two will be squaring off again in this year’s GOP primary election, scheduled for May 7.
Meanwhile, incumbent Cathy Mitchel filed for a new term as an at-large member of Adams County Council. Also filing that opening day for an council spot was A.J. Bertsch, the Monroe town marshal.
Since then, another at-large incumbent, John Summers, has filed for a new term, and Lance Fiechter filed his candidacy for an at-large seat.
So there are already four people vying for the three at-large seats on the council. And the third incumbent, Dennis Bluhm, has not yet revealed if he will be seeking another term.
A race for two spots on the Geneva Town Council is also assured.
Marvin Schwartz and Gary Hendershot, who hold the two at-large seats on the council, filed for new terms. Also filing on the first day and seeking an at-large seat was Lynn Burry.
So at least three candidates are seeking the two at-large seats.
Arlen Mitchel also filed his candidacy for the District 1 seat he currently holds.
In 2019, the Geneva council expanded from three to five seats after the change was approved by voters the previous year. So the council is made up of three people elected in districts 1, 2 and 3, and there are two at-large positions,
Three current office holders in county government filed for new terms: Recorder Tom Krueckeberg, Treasurer Ed Dyer and Auditor Tony Mellenkamp. Each is seeking a second term.
A 12th first-day filer was Adams Circuit Court Judge Chad Kukelhan, who is required to file his candidacy in the Indiana Secretary of State’s office in Indianapolis. He is seeking a third six-year term.
Noon on February 9 is the deadline to file a candidacy.