Election battles brewing in GOP-heavy Hamilton County

Fishers’ first city election is generating most of the buzz in the circles I navigate north of 96th Street, but voters throughout Hamilton County have decisions to make at the polls this year.

Other races on the 2014 ballot run the gamut from township board to U.S. Congress. (Pop quiz: Name a single member or your township board.) Precinct committee positions and convention delegate posts also are up for grabs.

For an early look at the whole lineup, check out the 15-page list of candidates the Hamilton County elections office posted online after the Feb. 7 filing deadline.

As you might expect in such an overwhelmingly Republican county, the May primary is shaping up to be hotly contested. But a fair number of Democrats also have entered the fray—three filed to run for the House seat now held by U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, for example. And Brooks has a primary opponent, too.

Other note-worthy candidates and races:

— State Rep. Eric Turner of Cicero will face challenger Parvin Gillim in the GOP primary; the winner takes on Democrat Bob Ashley in November.

— State Rep. Jerry Torr of Carmel faces Republican challenger Don Meier in May; Democrat David Russ will take on the winner in the general election.

— State Sen. James Merritt Jr. of Indianapolis is facing primary opposition from Republican Crystal LeMotte. (Merritt’s District 31 includes portions of both Marion and Hamilton counties.)

— GOP hopefuls Andrew J. Dollard and Fred Glynn are running for the County Council District 1 seat being vacated by incumbent Meredith Carter, who is seeking a position on the Clay Township Board.

— Carmel City Judge Brian Poindexter is running for a seat on the bench Hamilton Superior Court 3, where Judge William J. Hughes has presided for about 25 years.

What races are you paying attention to this year?