Mike Wolanin | The Republic People gather the swearing-in of GOP candidates that won their races in the general election in November in Bartholomew Superior Court 1 at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Dec. 30, 2022.
An enthusiastic crowd of Republicans gathered in the Bartholomew Superior Court 1 courtroom Friday to witness their sweep of the midterm elections come to fruition.
Most of those who took the oath from Judge James Worton had already served at least one term in their office. There were also officeholders who arranged to take the oath prior to Friday because they were still out-of-town on holiday, county clerk Shari Lentz said.
Political newcomers like Bartholomew County Prosecutor Lindsey Holden-Kay received the most enthusiastic applause Friday morning.
Holden-Kay, a former deputy prosecutor and Bartholomew County Juvenile Magistrate, received nearly 62% of the vote last spring in the GOP primary. There were no Democrats who challenged her in the fall.
Another first-time elected office holder is Sheriff Chris Lane, who ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Former Sheriff Matt Myers was prevented by term limits from running a third time for the office.
Lane, who served as Myers’ chief deputy for the past eight years, said he feels he has been well-prepared to become sheriff.
During the May primary election, Republicans chose Leah Buyer over incumbent Greg Duke to represent District 2 on the Bartholomew County Council. In the fall, Buyer handily defeated Democrat Paul Hoffman.
Greg Patterson, who is the new District 1 representative on the county council, is also a political newcomer. But due in part to his reputation as a youth sports organizer and prominent church leader, local Republicans say Patterson is well-known throughout rural areas of Bartholomew County.
In the primary, Patterson defeated both incumbent Scott Bonnell and Dave London. During the fall election, Patterson garnered 70% of all votes to win over Joshua Cobb.
On Sunday, the Bartholomew County Democratic Party will swear in a number of trustees and advisory board members. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Columbus City Hall.
On Tuesday, two individuals will attend their first meeting at at-large members of the Hope Town Council. Republicans Herby Asher and Shanon Pittman were able to ride the local Republican wave and defeat incumbent Democrat Jerry Bragg.
Another incumbent, Clyde Compton, was knocked out of the race by Asher and Pittman during the May GOP primary.
