Hamilton County GOP Primary Effectively Decides Sheriff’s Race; Key November Matchups Take Shape

LarryInFishers.com
Dustin Dixon (right) and Doug Carter (Photo provided, taken at the time of candidate filing )

Republican voters in Hamilton County have effectively chosen the county’s next sheriff. With no Democrat filing for the office in November, Tuesday’s GOP primary victory by Dustin Dixon all but assures he will become the next Hamilton County Sheriff.

Dixon captured more than 62 percent of the vote, defeating John Lowes, who finished with about 37 percent. The race drew considerable attention locally, with Dixon backed by former Hamilton County Sheriff and former Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter, while Lowes received the endorsement of incumbent Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush.

The open State Senate District 31 seat also attracted crowded primary fields, with four candidates competing in each party’s race.

On the Republican side, Hamilton Southeastern School Board member Juanita Albright scored a decisive victory to secure her party’s nomination. In the Democratic primary, Kerry Forestal held a narrow lead over Catherine Torzewski late Tuesday night, with only four precincts still left to report as of this writing.

In Indiana House District 37, Democrat Lauren Cole defeated Joel Levi in the primary and will now advance to the November general election to face Republican House Speaker Todd Huston.

In the race for Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District, incumbent Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz will face Democrat J.D. Ford in November. Ford emerged as the clear winner in a seven-candidate Democratic primary field.

Attention now shifts toward the November general election campaign season, which is expected to include several high-profile local races.

One race likely to draw significant local interest is the Hamilton Southeastern School Board election. Four seats will be on the ballot this fall, with candidates running in one of four geographic districts.

This will also mark the first HSE school board election conducted under Indiana’s new law allowing candidates to identify on the ballot as Republican, Democrat or nonpartisan — a change expected to bring even greater political attention to local school board contests.