Quiet primary awaits Putnam County voters

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 12:23 PM

By Paul Gable

An overall quiet May primary election season awaits voters in Putnam County following last week's deadline to submit names for candidacy.

Candidates have until noon Friday, Feb. 13 to challenge a candidate or withdraw their names from the races.

In Putnam County, there are three contested races on the county dockets, one for County Commissioners and two for County Council.

Republican incumbent Rick Woodall faces challenges from fellow Republicans Denver Sizemore and Lee Price for County Commissioner District 2.

County Council District 3 and County Council District 4 each see contested Republican primaries.

In District 3, incumbent Danny Wallace faces off against challengers Joseph Myers and Kevin Wayne Rief, while District 4 incumbent Brian Berry faces tests from both Tony Hacker and Andy Fidler.

There is one contested race in the Town of Cloverdale, as voters in the Third Ward will have to decide between Republican incumbent Brandon Tancak and challenger Daphne Rutenberg.

Putnam County Superior Court Judge Jim Ensley, Prosecuting Attorney Austin Malayer, Circuit Court Clerk Tracy Bridges, Sheriff Jerrod Baugh, County Recorder Heather Gilbert, County Surveyor Greg Williams and County Assessor Don Badolato, all Republicans, face no opposition in the May primary. At this time, there are no Democratic challengers for those seats either.

County Council District 1 councilman Wayne Huffman, a Republican, faces no primary opposition. The same can be said for County Council District 2 councilman Jay Alcorn, a Republican.

In Cloverdale, at-large incumbent Greg Jay, a Republican, faces no opposition.