Putnam County area school board filing deadline is closed

Friday, June 26, 2026 at 1:43 PM

By Paul Gable

For three Putnam County school boards, the filing process has closed and it is on to the November general election.

This marked the first time candidates could claim a party affiliation on the ballot, and two candidates did just that.

For the Cloverdale School Board, voters in Cloverdale Township will see two familiar names on the ballot as incumbent Vivian Whitaker is facing another challenge from Aaron Gould, who has identified as Republican this election.

In Taylor Township (Owen County) nobody filed for the seat, as Emily Haltom opted not to run for re-election.

North Putnam School Board will see a contested race in Jackson Township as Joanie Knapp, an incumbent, faces a challenge from Roger H. Busch II. In Clinton Township Republican Maria Brewer is on the ballot and Scott Miller is on the ballot in Floyd Township. Brewer is an incumbent.

Voters in South Putnam have openings on their ballot as Lee Cline opted not to run for re-election in Jefferson Township, and no other candidates filed. The same can be said in Warren Township, as Wade Fanning opted not to run again, and nobody else filed for the seat.