Published: May 03, 2008 07:32 pm            

Dems being put to the test in Clark County

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are not alone in running a close Democratic primary race. The local primaries in Clark County host a broad field of Democratic candidates.

Also like the presidential race, no Republican candidates are contested.

Only half of the county races even have a Republican candidate running in the general election — both county commissioner seats up for grabs and the three county council at-large seats will have a Republican in the race for the general election. But Republican voters will have no option in the primary or general election races for county coroner, Superior Court 2 judge and Superior Court 3 judge.

Four Democrats are running for Superior Court 2 Judge — Drew Adams, Jerry Jacobi, Shelley Marble and Dan Moore — and no Republicans. Only one person — Democrat Joe Weber — is running for the Superior Court 3 seat vacated by Judge Steven Fleece, who is retiring from the bench. Two Democrats are vying for county coroner — incumbent Edwin Coots and Adam Koch.

Though party affiliation is less significant on the local level, than on the national level.

“The more local you get, it’s more about the personalities and the people and how they are viewed in the primary,” said David Buskill, chairman of the Clark County Republican Party. “The number one driving factor is competitive races — the more competitive races, the more voters come out even on a local level.

“The [local] Democrats have some extremely competitive races.”

Three Democrats — Eric Hedrick, Bob McEwen and incumbent Ed Meyer — and one Republican — current County Councilman Monty Snelling — are running for county commissioner in district one. Four Democrats — council president Dave Abbott, Keith Coats, Don Guthrie, and Les Young — and one Republican — councilman Jack Coffman — are running for county commissioner in District 2.

Five Democrats — Thomas Campbell, Charlie Milburn, incumbent Chuck Moore, Perry Smith, and Kevin Vissing — and three Republicans — Steve Doherty, John Durbin, and incumbent Danny Yost — are running for three County Council At-large seats.

“In the commissioner’s race especially, I think anybody could win,” said Rod Pate, chairman of the Clark County Democratic Party. “I don’t see a front-runner.

“In years past it got so negative and nasty it discouraged people from running.”

Not anymore — only three incumbents are running in all six races. No matter who wins the primary, there will likely be many new faces in county government.

        

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