By DAVE KITCHELL
Pharos-Tribune staff writer
Attention turns to November in the aftermath of a Tuesday primary election that had several close races that were not officially decided until the Cass County Clerk’s Office released totals Wednesday afternoon.
Final voter turnout figures are expected to be available late this morning.
One race the primary sets up this fall is between political newcomer Dave Arnold, a retired Lewis Cass High School football coach and teacher and former two-term county commissioner Rex Harris, a Democrat, who was unopposed in the primary.
Arnold, who defeated former Cass Weights and Measures Inspector Kent Hall, said he will take a couple of weeks off after running a vigorous campaign for the past four months. He said support from more than 70 percent of the voters was a team effort.
“I’ve worked hard in every area. I tried to go around and meet and find people. The support has been outstanding. It kind of stemmed from my old football days,” he says.
Golfer Arnold Palmer had his own legion of fans known as Arnie’s Army, and Arnold said his own supporters as a coach had the same name. Now he is finding there is a new Arnie’s Army that will be ready to mobilize this fall.
Hall, who previously ran for Cass County Council, did not rule out another bid for office.
“Generally, I would like to have run better all the way through,” he said at the Republican reception following the election.
Hall said county government is generally headed in the right direction.
“I think so. Things need a little bit of tweaking here and there, but other than that, it’s going all right.”
In other races, State Rep. Rich McClain fended off a challenge from Cass County Commissioners President Rick Eller by winning 53 percent of the vote. Final totals also showed Sheryl Pherson was a plurality winner in the three-way race for the Republican nomination for Circuit Court judge. Her 44 percent outdistanced Robert L. Justice’s 36 percent. Patrick McNarny had 20 percent. McClain and Pherson do not yet have Democratic opponents yet, nor do Trish Williams, Kevin Enyeart, Rick Maughmer, Gene Isaacs, Judy Lewis and Shelby Ridenour on the Republican ballot and Don Shelhart on the Democratic ballot. Williams is running for recorder and Enyeart is seeking a second term as prosecutor. Maughmer is running for his first full term as Superior Court II judge. Isaacs is seeking his second term as sheriff. Lewis and Ridenour are running for re-election as county assessor and Eel Township assessor respectively. Shelhart is seeking re-election to the District 2 seat on the council.
In addition to the Arnold-Harris race, three county council races will be on the ballot in November. In District 1, Democrat Ron Blackman will oppose Brent Kelley. In District 3, incumbent Tom Keplar will be opposed by Ron Popejoy, who also ran for council two years ago. In District 4, former Cass County Highway Supervisor Henry Schrader will be opposed by Brian Reed. Schrader is a Democrat. Reed is a Republican. The seat is open one that has been held by Republican Dan Kitchel, the senior member of the council.
CASS COUNTY PRIMARY TOTALS
Congress, 2nd District
Chris Chocola (R) 2,759
Tony Zirkle (R) 1,088
Joe Donnelly (D) 874
Steve Francis (D) 245
State Rep., Dist. 24
Rich McClain (R) 1,657
Rick Eller (R) 1,480
Circuit Judge
Sheryl Pherson (R) 1,747
Robert L. Justice (R) 1,401
Patrick McNarny (R) 790
Commissioner, Dist. 3
Dave Arnold (R) 2,726
Kent Hall (R) 1,067
County Council, Dist. 1
Brent Kelley (R) 836
George L. Stebbins Jr. (R) 347
Lori Forrer (R) 303
Logansport School Board
Dist. 2
Michael Fiscel 1,986
William Tincher 952
Dist. 3
Lynne Ness 2,164
Matt Gotshall 805
Local News
Arnold expects a tough race in fall
Final totals give Pherson a plurality; McClain wins county by 157 votes.
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