LINTON —
Democrat John A. Wilkes may soon have to change political hats after capturing the Democrat nomination for mayor of Linton in Tuesday’s election with a large vote margin.
Wilkes won 961 to 201 over challenger Michael R. Hennette. All votes are unofficial until certified May 13 by the Greene County Election Board.
Wilkes will have to wait until June 30 to find out if he has a Republican opponent in the November election. If no opponent arises, Wilkes will have to step down from his position as president of the Greene County Council.
“I had a lot of people working for me and had a team put together that worked hard for the last several weeks and have a lot of friends here in town. I have been involved in the community for the past 40 years,” Wilkes said.
He is owner of Mercury Cleaners, a dry cleaning and custom draping business.
If elected to mayor in November, Wilkes said would concentrate on improving sewer and water lines in Linton as well as the city’s sewer treatment plant.
“We will try to work on creating some jobs, which is hard to do in a small town,” he said. “We will try to work on what we already have — our tourism and the fishing industry here. We have the Goose Pond wetlands to work with and just try to enhance the local things that we have,” Wilkes said.
In addition, Wilkes said Linton needs to work with public schools to create a good workforce for businesses locating on the west gate of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare facility.
Tuesday marked the first time Wilkes had run for mayor. He has, however, been elected to three terms on the county council, currently serving in the first year of his third term.
In the race for City Council Precinct 4, Democrat incumbent Linda D. Bedwell won with 192 votes over 79 for challenger Matt Mason. Democrat incumbent Jerry L. Ellett lost the Precinct 5 council seat to challenger Fred Markle. Markle got 108 votes, while Ellett got 92 votes. Republican Kegan Inman got 4 votes.
Incumbent Democrat Charles “Charlie” Cox also lost in Precinct 6 to challenger Jathan Wright, who received 208 votes, compared with 98 for Cox; and incumbent Nigel W. Lehman was able to hold onto Precinct 7, with 148 votes, compared with 71 for challenger Kenneth “Bud” Klein. Republican Jared Albright got 33 votes.
Democrat Tony Richards was unopposed in Precinct 3, getting 138 votes.
In Jasonville, incumbent clerk-treasurer Charlotte Thomas won the Democrat nomination with 94 votes, topping Jane E. Landry who got 73 votes. Republican James R. Seifert received 29 votes.
Mayor Roy L. Terrell Sr. was unopposed in his re-election bid with 143 votes. Republicans have until June 30 to place a candidate on the November ballot. Overall, 29.6 percent of voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s primary election in Greene County with 1,444 ballots out of 4,865 registered voters.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
Elections 2011
Wilkes wins in landslide in Linton mayoral race
- Elections 2011
-
-
One got more money, one more votes
Voter support propelled Republican Duke Bennett to a second term as mayor of Terre Haute in November, but Democratic challenger Fred Nation outraised and outspent Bennett in that election.
-
Bennett, All foresee bright future for city at swearing in
“I think Terre Haute is right on the cusp of greatness, and I’m proud to be part of it,” the city’s newest councilman said Monday after taking an oath of office in city hall.
-
VOTERS BACK BENNETT: Incumbent shocked by size of landslide
For the first time since the Prohibition era, Terre Haute voters have re-elected a Republican as mayor.
-
City Council District 2: All tops incumbent Democrat Ralston
Terre Haute’s 2nd District city council seat is back in Republican hands after four years of Democratic representation.
-
Reaction mixed on ballot changes
Some Terre Haute voters said Tuesday they preferred a simpler ballot, mandated by a new state law effective this year, that did not contain the names of unopposed candidates.
-
New clerk-treasurer elected in Seelyville
A new clerk-treasurer has been elected while three incumbent council members will return for the Town of Seelyville in a Democrat sweep of the town election.
-
Sarah Mullican cruises to win, retains bench
Taking 57 percent of the vote, Sarah Mullican will retain the bench as judge for Terre Haute City Court.
-
Loudermilk tops Flott in rematch
In what was a rematch of four years earlier, the final result remained the same on Tuesday as incumbent Norm Loudermilk won re-election to a fifth term on the Terre Haute City Council, representing District 3.
-
Incumbent John Mullican takes 64 percent of vote
As he watched election results Tuesday night, John Mullican was cautious about acknowledging victory too soon, even though he appeared to be well ahead with most precincts counted.
-
Dems find success in Valley mayoral races
Cities throughout the Wabash Valley placed Democrats at the helm Tuesday, as the party swept mayoral races by large margins.
-
No Knew City Council seat — Auler tallies victory
Amy Auler anxiously darted from room to room at her parents’ home as family, friends and co-workers monitored television, Internet and smart phones for election results.
-
Election problems few; voter turnout light
Despite an unusually warm November day, just 28 percent of Terre Haute registered voters made their way to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots.
-
Voters flock to polls to support their candidates
Small towns throughout the Wabash Valley cranked out the votes Tuesday, electing town council members and officials.
-
Mississippi defeats life at conception ballot initiative
Mississippi voters Tuesday defeated a ballot initiative that would’ve declared life begins at conception, a proposal that supporters sought in the Bible Belt state as a way to prompt a legal challenge to abortion rights nationwide.
-
Ohio voters reject Republican-backed union limits
The state’s new collective bargaining law was defeated Tuesday after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the Republican establishment.
-
Democratic challenger concedes Indy mayor’s race
Republican Mayor Greg Ballard appears poised to win his second term as Indianapolis mayor.
-
Election Day: Bennett-Nation mayoral faceoff leads TH ballot in today’s voting
Terre Haute voters will select a mayor and city council members today as polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
-
Write-in candidate Bissey takes issue with ballots
Terre Haute mayoral write-in candidate Bob Bissey is objecting to the size of the words “Write-in” on the Nov. 8 electoral ballot.
-
Candidates make their case with organized labor
Mayor Duke Bennett and Democrat challenger Fred Nation appealed for union support in the Nov. 8 election during a candidates night Monday, hosted by the Wabash Valley Central Labor Council and Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 20.
-
District 2 candidates report finances
Financial reports for the race for the District 2 seat on the Terre Haute City Council were reported Monday.
-
Mayoral candidate announces plan to keep, bring new jobs Terre Haute
Democratic mayoral candidate Fred Nation on Thursday announced a “jobs for Terre Haute plan” he said he will implement if elected mayor on Nov. 8.
-
Vigo County tests out voting machines
Voting machines are ready for the Nov. 8 municipal election after a public testing Thursday in a storage facility on South 13th Street.
-
Mayor Bennett opens campaign headquarters
Mayor Duke Bennett officially opened his 2011 campaign headquarters Monday evening amid dozens of enthusiastic supporters.
-
Dems open headquarters
Terre Haute Democrats rallied Thursday to show their support for mayoral candidate Fred Nation at a “grand opening” of the Vigo County Democratic Party Headquarters on Wabash Avenue.
-
Dem, GOP candidates seek office in Seelyville
The town of Seelyville will have an election on Nov. 8 to select a clerk/treasurer and town board members, while West Terre Haute must hold a party convention.
Candidates had until Aug. 1 to file for town officials in Seelyville, Riley and West Terre Haute. -
Mayoral candidates gear up for campaigns
With the 2011 Terre Haute mayoral election six months away, incumbent Mayor Duke Bennett, a Republican, and challenger Fred Nation, a Democrat, are well into making plans for the fall campaign season.
-
Nation vows clean campaign
Less than 48 hours after winning Tuesday’s Democratic Party mayoral primary, Fred Nation is asking his Republican rival, Mayor Duke Bennett, to join him in signing a promise to run a clean fall campaign.
-
Sullivan mayoral hopeful looks to move forward with city
Democrat Clint D. Lamb said it is time to put the past behind and look to the future to build a better city of Sullivan.
-
Fred Nation wins mayoral primary in a landslide
Olive branches were in the air Tuesday evening as the sun set on a sometimes hard-fought Terre Haute Democratic Party mayoral primary.
-
Incumbent out: Amy Auler bests Rich Dunkin for Terre Haute City Council D-1
Incumbent City Council member Rich Dunkin, who publicly flip-flopped on a bid for a third term, was unseated Tuesday by challenger Amy Auler, who won the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat on the council.
- More Elections 2011 Headlines
-
One got more money, one more votes
Beryl Threatens Rain, Winds on Southeast Coast
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Astronauts Enter World's 1st Private Supply Ship
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Today in History
Shell Readies Arctic Drill Ship
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Beer Here!: An Historic Exhibit
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China
Beyonce Entertains the First Family
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges
Has Snooki Named Her Baby?
Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend
Inspiration for the class of 2012
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad
Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest
Jenny McCarthy's New Man
Tyler's Classic Coleslaw
Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
