Matthew Ralph
JEFFERSONVILLE — Democrat Dan Moore unseated Abraham “Abe” Navarro in the Clark County Circuit Court race Tuesday, less than six months after the sitting Republican was appointed to the post.
Moore captured 59.1 percent of the vote tally with 26,686 votes to best Navarro’s 40.9 percent of the vote and 18,441 votes, according to unofficial results.
“It’s been a long haul,” Moore told an Evening News reporter at Democratic election night headquarters Tuesday evening after the returns trickled in.
Moore didn’t initially run for the post, and almost didn’t get a chance to run after a Democratic Party caucus chose him to challenge Navarro in the race. Moore was beaten by Jerry Jacobi in the Superior Court 3 race in May. Jacobi ran unopposed in the general election Tuesday.
His candidacy for the Clark County Circuit judge post was initially denied by the Indiana Election Commission for allegedly filing paperwork incorrectly, but that ruling was overturned by the commission in August. The commission also dismissed a counter-challenge to Navarro’s candidacy.
“I want to say to thanks to the precinct people and voters,” said Moore, a 56-year-old attorney who has been a trial lawyer for 24 years and Clark County attorney for more than 15 years. “All year, I’ve said we want to modernize the courts and I think the voters responded to that.”
Navarro took over the judge’s seat in early June after he was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels to replace Judge Daniel F. Donahue. Donahue, a Democrat, retired from the post after 21 years of service to move closer to family in Washington state.
Navarro will serve as Circuit Court Judge until Jan. 1.
“It’s been the greatest honor to serve as Clark County Circuit judge during the time that I had,” Navarro said in a phone interview after the results were posted. “I’m 37 years old and I have a long career ahead of me.”
In uncontested races for Clark County judge seats, the following were elected Tuesday:
• Superior Court No. 2 — Democrat Jerome F. “Jerry” Jacobi, 32,950 votes
• Superior Court No. 3 — Democrat Joseph P. “Joe” Weber, 32,362 votes
