Four years ago, Scott Bonnell won his first GOP primary election after reporting no contributions and no spending.
But this year, the District 1 county councilman found himself in a three-way primary fight.
When all ballots were counted, Republican voters chose Greg Patterson, 54, over Bonnell to be the party’s nominee in the fall election. Retired Cummins Inc. employee Dave London was also a primary challenger.
Well-known for officiating youth sports events, his charitable work and commitment to his church, Patterson said he was able to use those avenues to receive help from several people he knew personally and professionally.
Patterson was also praised by a number of county officials for talking to administrators in all county departments.
“I (also) prayed a lot, asked God for guidance and did what I thought was the right thing,” said Patterson, who also commended his primary opponent for their willingness to put their names on the ballot.
Patterson moves on to the November election, where his opponent will be Democrat Joshua (Shua) Cobb.
County Council District 2
In what turned out to be the closest countywide race, Leah Beyer narrowly defeated incumbent Greg Duke in Tuesday’s Republican primary. That gives the German Township resident her party’s nomination to run for the District 2 race for Bartholomew County Council.
Beyer, a livestock producer and agribusiness marketing expert, did not know until the final results were texted to her that she had defeated Duke, a career sheriff deputy and school resource officer chosen by party leaders late last year to fill out the term of Laura DeDomenic. The fact that German Township was one of the last voting centers to report Tuesday night made things tense, Beyer said.
“It was nerve-wracking because I knew Greg was from German Township as well,” Beyer said. “But I love that I was able to take the most dramatic race and win.”
Beyer is perhaps best known for her work with 4-H and the more than two years she volunteered for the CFO Regulation Committee, which came up with regulations for large scale animal feeding operations.
During her campaign, Beyer said she believes strategic priorities should be put in place to maintain our infrastructure, adding the county must also help ensure assessed valuation continues to grow with more business and industry.
At this time, there is no Democrat running for this position. The party has until July 5 to fill the vacancy on the ballot.
County Council District 3
Mark Gorbett had quite an eventful 65th birthday Tuesday.
After his fellow Republicans sang “Happy Birthday” at Otter Creek Golf Course during a GOP event, voters gave the former two-term sheriff their own present: the Republican nomination to run for a third consecutive term on the Bartholomew County Council.
Gorbett, who has been a strong advocate for raising employee salaries in accordance with a commissioned salary study, won a decisive victory over Derick Olson, 39, a Cummins employee.;
After running successfully for public office in five previous primaries, Gorbett had contemplated stepping down from politics. He said the decision to seek another term on the council was a family choice – not just his own.
“I am so blessed and have so many friends to provide support from the Republican Party,” Gorbett said. “I just feel comfortable that I’ve always done the right thing for voters in our community.
Gorbett will face Democrat Blake Wesley Fields in the November general election.
