> SOUTHERN INDIANA — It will be a crowded field on the primary ballots of Clark and Floyd County residents.

The deadline for candidates to file for the primary election, which will be held May 8, was noon Friday. Along with local county races, Hoosiers will get the chance to weigh in on multiple state races and the presidential election.



Presidential primary

Among the candidates that will appear on Indiana ballots for the Republican presidential primary are Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Patricia Inez Standifer and Rick Santorum. President Barack Obama is the lone candidate appearing on May’s Democratic primary ballot.



State, federal races

A number of the state’s incumbents will have challengers in the May primary. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar will face challenger Richard Mourdock in the Republican primary. The winner is set to face off against Democrat Joe Donnelly in the November general election.

There is a crowded field running to be the U.S. Congressional Representative from Indiana’s 9th District.

Incumbent Republican Todd Young will face one challenger in May’s primary, Regina Parrella-DeWilde. The Democratic field is a race between four candidates, Jonathan George, John Griffin Miller, John W. Tilford and Robert R. Winningham.

The state’s gubernatorial candidates are unchallenged in their respective primary elections, setting up a race in November between Republican Mike Pence and Democrat John Gregg to see who will replace outgoing Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Two of the races for Indiana’s House of Representatives will be unchallenged in the primary election.

Incumbent Terry Goodin, D-District 66, and Incumbent Steve Stemler, D-District 71, are unopposed in the primary and no candidate has filed yet to run against them in the general election. The primary for house district 73 will also be uncontested, but incumbent Steve Davisson, Republican, will face Sandra Blanton, Democrat, in the general election.

In house district 70, the Democratic primary will be contested, with Alva “Jim” Kincaid Jr. facing Terry L. Miller. The winner of the Democratic primary will face incumbent Republican Rhonda Rhoads in the November election.



Clark County

One Clark County Judge, Vicki Carmichael, a Democrat, is running unopposed for the fourth circuit court post. There will be a contested race for Clark County coroner as Terry Conway and Mark Goodlett will face off in the Republican primary to see who will run against the lone Democratic candidate John Hall, in November.

Both incumbent Clark County Commissioners will be challenged in the general election, but no candidate, including their opponents in November, will face a challenge in May’s primary.

Incumbent Democrat Ed Meyer will face Republican Rick Stephenson in the general election to represent the county’s first district. Clark County District 1 includes Carr, Jeffersonville, Silver Creek and Wood Townships.

Incumbent Democrat Les Young will face Republican Jack Coffman in the general election to be the county’s second district representative. Clark County District 2 includes Union, Monroe and Charlestown — precincts 1-6 and 8 — townships.

Although the commissioners represent districts, the elections are held countywide.

The entire county will also get a chance to vote for all of the candidates in the race for Clark County Council, because the candidates are running for the At-large seats. The Democratic primary for county council includes two incumbents, Perry Smith and Kevin Vissing, along with a host of challengers. The others running include David Abbott, Charles King, Susan Popp and Brenda Ross.

The field of republican candidates is as equally crowded, but does not include any incumbents. The candidates facing off in the Republican primary are Keith Goss, Adam Hutchinson, Kelly Khuri, Chuck Latham, Ryan Lynch, Mac McIntosh and Win Walker Jr.

Three members of each party receiving the highest number of votes in May will appear on the general election ballot in November, with the top three overall vote getters gaining the At-large posts.



Floyd County

Candidates for three of Floyd County’s elected office holders will run unopposed in May’s primary election.

Floyd County Recorder candidates Republican Lois Endris and Democrat Maury Goldberg will not be challenged in the primary election and face off against one another in November. No candidates have filed yet to run for County Treasurer against Republican Linda Berger. Also the only candidate filed in the county surveyor’s race is Republican William B. Gibson.

One primary that will be contested is the Democratic race to be Floyd County coroner. The primary will pit Todd Caufield against incumbent Leslie Knable. The winner will face Republican Thomas Sonne in the November general election.

The field has also been set for the November election in both Floyd County Commissioners races, as only one candidate per party filed for the position.

For Floyd County District 2 Republican Bill Fender will face incumbent Democrat Charles “Chuck” Freiberger to represent all of Lafayette and Greenville townships. For the commissioner’s District 3 seat incumbent Republican Steve Bush will face Democrat Dennis Roudenbush, who will represent all of Georgetown and Franklin townships. Again, although the commissioners represent districts the races will be held countywide.

The field is also set for November’s general election for the Floyd County Council At-large representatives.

In the Republican primary Steve Burks, Billy Stewart and Cam Wright will appear on the ballot. For the Democrats Ted Heavrin, Carol Shope and Brad Striegel, all incumbents, will appear on the ballot. The top three vote getters from all six candidates will gain the At-large seats on next year’s county council.