ANDERSON — Twenty-two candidates filed Wednesday at the Madison County Government Center to run in the May primary election, including three contenders for county sheriff.

Incumbent Sheriff Ron Richardson, a Democrat, filed to retain his position, while Republicans Bruce Dunham and Sam Hanna will face off in the primary.

Two Madison County Council members also filed their candidacy Wednesday, including District 2 representative Buddy Patterson and District 3 member John Bostic. Another candidate, Joey Cole, filed to run for the District 1 seat on the council.

Candidates filed for school board, township trustee and other county positions as well, including Ludy Watkins, current county clerk.

“I got here at quarter after 6 so I could be the first one to file,” Watkins said. “Everybody wants to try to be first.”

Watkins said there were a few candidates waiting to sign up when the courthouse officially opened at 8 a.m.

Madison County Election Director Mary Retherford said Wednesday’s candidate traffic was fairly normal for the first day of filing. The last day to register as a major-party candidate is Feb. 19.

Candidates don’t need to complete any campaign activities before they file other than being registered to vote in the county. It takes about seven days for a newly registered voter to appear in the county’s database.

Kim Builta, who announced in November her candidacy for Indiana House District 36, filed her candidacy with the county Wednesday.

“These last few months I have met with many community leaders and dedicated citizens,” said Builta, the president and co-owner of Rowland Title Company. “Their message to me was, ‘Kim, we need jobs, we need economic development and we need it now.’ I have heard them loud and clear. That is why I filed today to run for state representative.”

Also on Wednesday, Madison Circuit Court Judge Rudy Pyle made his candidacy official. Pyle was appointed to the court in October by Gov. Mitch Daniels after Judge Fredrick Spencer retired.

“As judge of Madison Circuit Court, Judge Pyle has improved the efficiency of both the criminal and civil dockets, worked with his colleagues to unify the court system and has made technological improvements to the court,” said a release from Pyle. “Judge Pyle’s vast experience at the Court of Appeals, as an Indiana state trooper, professor, private attorney and deputy prosecutor made him the ideal choice to continue serving as Madison County’s Circuit Court judge.”

The primary election will be May 4, and this year’s general election will be Nov. 2.



Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley@heraldbulletin.com.



2010 primary candidates

Candidates who filed to run in the May primary election on Wednesday include:

* Ludy Watkins, Madison County clerk, Democrat*

* Ron Richardson, Madison County sheriff, Democrat*

* Paul Wilson, Madison County commissioner (south district), Democrat*

* Rudy Pyle, Madison County Circuit Court judge, Republican*

* Bruce Dunham, Madison County sheriff, Republican

* Joey Cole, Madison County Council (District 1), Democrat

* Barbara Johnson, Anderson Township trustee, Democrat*

* Buddy Patterson, Madison County Council (District 2), Democrat*

* Lisa Hobbs, Madison County recorder, Democrat*

* Sam Hanna, Madison County sheriff, Republican

* Scott Green, Anderson Community Schools board (east district)

* John Bostic, Madison County Council (District 3), Democrat*

* Kelly Gaskill, Madison County treasurer, Republican

* Mike Gaskill, South Madison Community Schools board (District 2)*

* Joel Sandefur, South Madison Community Schools board (District 3)

* Kenny Johnson, Richland Township trustee, Democrat

* Pearl Gardner, Pipe Creek Township trustee, Democrat*

* Joseph Clark, Anderson Community Schools board (south district)

* Paul Lawther, Stony Creek Township board, Democrat

* Kim Builta, Indiana state representative (District 36), Republican

* Kristie Binda, Anderson Community Schools board (east district)

* Robert Miles Sr., precinct committee person (Ward 5, Precinct 4), Democrat



Up for election

Offices for the 2010 election include U.S. senator, U.S. representative District 6, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state senator districts 25 and 26, state representative districts 35-37, Circuit Court judge, Superior Court 1 judge, county prosecutor, county clerk, county recorder, county treasurer, county sheriff, county assessor, county commissioner south district, County Council member districts 1-4, Adams Township trustee and three board members, Anderson Township trustee and three board members, Boone Township trustee and three board members, Duck Creek Township trustee and three board members, Fall Creek Township trustee and three board members, Green Township trustee and three board members, Jackson Township trustee and three board members, Lafayette Township trustee and three board members, Monroe Township trustee and three board members, Pipe Creek Township trustee and three board members, Richland Township trustee and three board members, Stony Creek Township trustee and three board members, Union Township trustee and three board members, Van Buren Township trustee and three board members, Ingalls Town Council at-large (two seats), Lapel Town Council at-large (2 seats), Pendleton Town Council District 3, Pendleton Town Council at-large, Anderson Community Schools board central, east, south and at-large seats, Alexandria Community Schools board districts 2 and 3, Elwood Community School Corp. board districts 1 and 4, Frankton-Lapel Community School Corp. districts 5, 6 and at-large, Madison-Grant United School Corp. District 4, South Madison Community Schools board districts 1-3, Democrat precinct committee people, Republican state convention delegates, Democrat state convention delegates.