Congressional candidate
The Commons vote center was quiet aside from the dull hum of an escalator and distant murmurings of candidate representatives and election officials predicting a close race.
Until Republican candidate Greg Pence, who is hoping to represent the 6th District in U.S. House of Representatives, entered the Commons at around 9 a.m. to cast his vote, that is.
The Columbus businessman was accompanied by his wife, Denise, and daughter, Nicole Becker, also a campaign representative. Greg Pence spoke briefly with volunteers advocating on behalf of candidates for the offices of sheriff and District 59 state representative.
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Pence said that he was optimistic about Tuesday’s outcome based on positive feedback he had received from Hoosiers while campaigning.
“I feel good. I’m excited,” Pence said. “We’ve been well-received in all of the 19 counties.”
After casting his vote, Pence and his wife paused to greet longtime family friends Jeff and Cynthia Rhoades, who had arrived at The Commons to campaign on his behalf. The Pences posed for a photo with the Rhoadeses before leaving The Commons.
“(I am) focused on the 6th (District) and their needs, promising to provide world-class constituent services,” said Pence, who planned to watch election results with other Columbus area Republicans at the Hamilton Community Center Watch Party Tuesday night.
— Abby Land
Weeding out the candidates
Chuck Fox of Columbus was the first to arrive at Flintwood Wesleyan Church on Election Day — about 4:30 a.m., 90 minutes before the polls opened. He wasn’t there to vote, having already cast his ballot in advance. Instead, the church trustee was there on behalf of his congregation, opening up the voting center for election officials to get ready for Tuesday’s 6 a.m. start of voting.
While biding his time at 9:45 a.m., Fox got out a sprayer filled with Roundup to get rid of just a few weeds popping up among the mulch.
Voters, meanwhile, were deciding which candidates to keep and which ones to shun.
Judy Wilkerson of Columbus voted at the Flintwood vote center. Wilkerson said she turned out to vote in the Republican primary in the sheriff’s race for incumbent Matt Myers.
“We had gotten to know him over the past year. We just liked him and got to know his family,” she said.
Bill Kent, also of Columbus, another Flintwood voter, had a different purpose in mind.
Kent, a retired sheet-metal worker who said he went to Catholic grade school with Vice President Mike Pence in Columbus, primarily came out to vote for the U.S. Senate race.
But the Democrat asked for Republican ballot.
Kent, who said he will support incumbent U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly in the general election, said he came to vote Tuesday for the Republican he considered the weakest in the field among the three — Todd Rokita, Luke Messer and Mike Braun, giving Donnelly the best chance of winning in the fall.
He decided the Republican who would be easiest for Donnelly to beat would be Rokita, so that’s who he voted for.
“They’re not what I grew up with as Republicans,” Kent said of the three Republican candidates for Senate on Tuesday’s ballot.
— Tom Jekel
Contrast in races
Columbus residents made their way to the Donner Center mid-day Tuesday with several races on their mind.
For Jane Sims, the U.S. Senate race was one she was watching closely. Sims said she was disappointed with the campaigns that were run by Republicans Luke Messer, Todd Rokita and Mike Braun. Sims, a pastor at Calvary Community Church of the Apostolic Faith, called on political leaders to come together regardless of whatever party they affiliate with.
“It’s a critical time in our country,” Sims said, declining to reveal which candidate she voted for. “I thought it was kind of a nasty race.”
District 59 candidate JoAnne Flohr said she tried to keep her campaign positive.
“I think I’ve run a very good, honest upfront campaign,” said Flohr, who was outside the Donner Center talking with voters as they entered and exited the building.
She was joined outside Donner Center by representatives from other candidates in the race, including Dale Nowlin, Allen Smith and Ryan Lauer.
Laurer’s parents, Lillie and Dennis, traveled to Columbus from Valparaiso to support their son in his bid for state representative. They were in place outside Donner Center when voting started at 6 a.m. The couple also helped hang 140 door hangers on Monday.
“He has a passion for people and getting government to work well,” Lillie Lauer said of her son.
State Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, stopped in at MainSource Bank on Jonathon Moore Pike to vote in the mid-afternoon hours.
Smith, who has represented District 59 in the House of Representatives for six terms, said he hopes that whoever is elected will continue with his principles and values and his conservative nature.
“It’s a pretty calm day for me — the first time in 12 years,” Smith said.
— Matthew Kent
An election day for all ages
Election officials who arrived at the vote center inside the Bartholomew County REMC building on County Road 200S were surprised to find a high school government student ready to volunteer shortly after they opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Since the teenage girl had no credentials, Republican inspector Horace Tucker said it took a few phone calls to find out her teacher had instructed students to assist candidates or their representatives outside vote centers.
Unless they are voting, people without credentials are required to stay at least 50 feet from a vote center.
Although many election watchers nationally were predicting a strong youth vote this year, that wasn’t evident at three county vote centers.
Polling inspectors at Terrace Lake Church, Bartholomew County REMC, and Flintwood Wesleyan Church say the turnout of millennial voters doesn’t appear to be any larger than it was in either 2014 or 2016.
However, those same inspectors said they were impressed by how many World War II veterans who are well into their 90s still show up to carry out what they feel is their patriotic duty of voting.
— Mark Webber
