Opinion Piece — Haylee Weston
As a community member of Fayette County, I strongly encourage each and every resident to take time to research the individuals running for local office before casting a vote.
Name recognition alone should never be the deciding factor in an election. Local leadership decisions directly impact our daily lives — from how public funds are managed to how community priorities are addressed. Informed voting helps ensure those decisions reflect the best interests of our county.
This post includes a list of candidates appearing on the May Primary ballot, along with several public resources voters may use to conduct their own independent research.
Why the Primary Election Matters
Primary elections play a critical role in determining which candidates from each political party advance to the General Election ballot.
In many local races, the primary effectively decides who will hold office — making voter participation and due diligence especially important at this stage.
As voters, we all weigh qualifications differently. Personally, I consider a candidate’s financial stewardship — including how they manage personal obligations — to be one factor among many when evaluating readiness to oversee public funds.
That perspective may not be shared by everyone, and that is okay.
Everyone is entitled to their own views. My hope is simply that all voters form informed opinions before heading to the polls.
🔎 Public Research Resources
Below are several publicly accessible tools voters may use if they wish to learn more about candidates’ public records and filings.
Property Tax Records
This site allows users to review property tax payment history.
How to search:
• Select Fayette County
• Enter the individual’s name
• Click into Property Detail
• Review any listed delinquencies or penalties
• Change the tax year to view prior payment history
Federal Bankruptcy Filings
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) provides access to federal court filings, including bankruptcies.
Important notes:
• Account registration is required
• An activation code is mailed to you
• Fees typically range from $0.10–$0.20 per page
• Charges under $30 per quarter are waived
State Court Records
https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/#/vw/Search
The MyCase system allows users to search Indiana court records, including:
• Foreclosures
• Civil collections
• Judgments
• Other civil filings
🗳️ Fayette County Primary Candidates
The following list includes local offices only and excludes precinct committeemen and convention delegates.
Judge of Superior Court
Paul L. Freed (R)
Prosecuting Attorney — 73rd Judicial Circuit
Colin Thayer Judd (R)
Sheriff
Zacharia S. Jones (R)
Circuit Court Clerk
Dawn Hughes (R)
Ashley Chambers (R)
Auditor
Deborah “Debbie” Coleman (R)
Recorder
Jane Downard (R)
Lisa Mays Witt (R)
Assessor
Jeff Coleman (R)
Surveyor
William Macke (D)
Commissioner District 1
Kay Riker Peyton (R)
Dale L. Strong (D)
County Council
District 1
Connie Durham (R)
District 2
Jabin Jay Collins (R)
Robert Stewart (R)
District 3
Timothy Barricklow (R)
Jerry Robert May (R)
District 4
Gary R. Keener Jr. (R)
Jim Wulff (R)
Township Trustees
Columbia — Addie Mustin (R)
Connersville — Terena Gibson Murray (R)
Connersville — Linda Wulff (R)
Fairview — Bruce Ritter (R)
Harrison — Terri Mustin Patterson (R)
Jackson — Brandy M. Steinard (R)
Jennings — Karen M. Bales (D)
Orange — Katie Adams (I)
Posey — Anna Dungan (R)
Posey — Jaime Ripberger (R)
Township Board Members
Columbia — Daniel Chambers (R), Caleb Daugherty (R), Michelle Daugherty (R), Patty Hauri (D)
Connersville — Nycole Dare (R), Cathy Klemme Harvey (R), Scott A. Kelley (R), Rick Shannon (R), Timothy P. Sparks (R), Brian Gilbert (D), Terry Sturgeon (D)
Fairview — Nina Munson (R), Lisa K. Sembach (R)
Harrison — Karen Whitecotton (R), Sarah R. Grubbs (D), Ruby Siler (D)
Jackson — Donna Ruf (D), Gary Ruf (D)
Jennings — Carolyn Bunzendahl (R), Mary R. Hiers (D)
Orange — Angela May (R), Ed Herrell (D), Don Kirk (D)
Waterloo — George A. Henry (D), Stephen Henry (D), Tom Scholl (D)
Town of Glenwood
Clerk-Treasurer — Mary M. Richardson (R)
Town Council
David Miller (R)
Jo Temple (R)
Dennis Richardson (D)
📝 Voter Registration Information
To register to vote or verify your registration, visit:
https://indianavoters.in.gov/
You may also contact the Fayette County Clerk’s Office at (765) 825-1813 or visit in person for assistance.
Disclaimer
This article is an opinion submission. The perspectives expressed are solely those of the author and are intended for informational and commentary purposes only. References to candidates and public records are based on publicly accessible information at the time of publication. No allegations or conclusions of wrongdoing are asserted. Readers are encouraged to independently verify information through official sources when forming their own opinions.
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