Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. math teacher Dale Nowlin has filed his candidacy to seek the Democratic nomination for the District 59 state representative race, hoping to challenge incumbent Republican Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus in the general election in November.
If the two candidates win their respective primaries, the race will be a repeat of the 2018 campaign when Nowlin and Lauer vied for the seat being vacated by the retiring Milo Smith. Lauer emerged the winner 57% to 41%.
Lauer filed to run for re-election with the Indiana Secretary of State’s office on Jan. 9. Nowlin, who has been an educator in Columbus since 1985, filed Jan. 10.
As he stated four years ago, Nowlin stated his top priority is strengthening Indiana’s public schools.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
District 59 encompasses Columbus, Taylorsville and in general, areas west of State Road 7 in western and southern Bartholomew County.
At the local level, Andrew Brunni has filed his paperwork to run as a GOP candidate for one of the three Bartholomew County Council at-large seats.
Two years ago, Brunni, who lives on County Road 300S, lost his campaign to defeat fellow Republican Sandy Bayles in the race for Sandcreek Township Trustee.
Incumbent Republicans who have filed for re-election on the Bartholomew County Council include Laura DeDomenic and Bill Lentz.
It was only two years ago that DeDomenic won her District 2 seat on the council by defeating fellow Republican Glenn Petri in the 2018 primary. That fall, she ran unopposed.
But instead of her current seat on the council, DeDomenic is seeking one of the three at-large seats.
Lentz, a former Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. board member and Farm Bureau president, has served as an at-large council member since 2008.
The following are candidates who filed their paperwork on the first day permitted by law, Jan. 8. Those who are not incumbents have their names in bold print.
Jim Lucas (Republican) — District 69 State Representative
Larry Kleinhenz (Republican) — 1st District County Commissioner
JoAnne Flohr (Republican) — 2nd District County Commissioner
Tony London (Republican) — 2nd District County Commissioner
Evelyn Strietelmeier Pence (Republican) — At-large member of the county council
Matt Miller (Republican) — At-large member of the county council
Derick Olson (Republican) — At-large member of the county council
Clayton Nolting (Republican) — County coroner
E.R. Gray (Republican) — County surveyor
John Walstad (Republican) — Ward 2 seat on the Hope Town Council
