(Whitewater Valley)--Here are results of local elections from Tuesday:
WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF: Randy Retter appears to be Wayne County’s next sheriff. Retter defeated opponents Todd Barker and Donnie Benedict when the county’s votes were tallied Tuesday night. Retter received 43% of the votes, while Barker finished second with 35%. Retter is not yet technically in place as the sheriff-elect. Another party could name a candidate to oppose Retter in the fall. But that’s unlikely to happen and, even if it did, it would be even more unlikely that that candidate would be successful.
DISTRICT 56: Three-time incumbent Dick Hamm was unseated Tuesay in his bid for a fourth term as the State Representative from Indiana District 56. Not only was Hamm defeated, he was defeated decisively by political newcomer Brad Barrett. Barrett defeated Hamm by slightly more than a two-to-one margin. Barrett will now face Democratic nominee Jeff Locke in the fall. Locke ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket.
WAYNE COUNTY COUNCIL: Beth Leisure on Tuesday became the Republican nominee to replace Pete Zaleski on Wayne County Council. Leisure defeated Mark Hoelscher 56-44%. Leisure will square off against Democratic nominee Nick Elder in November. Elder ran unopposed.
PREBLE: In Preble County, there were several tax levies on the ballot. Lakengren approved a police levy by a 3-1 margin that ensures the gated community will continue to have the police protection that began nine years ago. A Lewisburg police levy went down to defeat by just 16 votes. Preble County also supported Mike Dewine, who won the Republican race for governor over Mary Taylor.
FAYETTE: There were only a couple of contested races in Fayette County Tuesday. In the race for Democratic nominee for County Commissioner, Donna Schroeder beat Jerry Pennington 55-45%. Joey Laughlin won in a landslide in the race for sheriff, defeating Wesley Pennington 87-13%.
RANDOLPH: There was only one contested local race for Randolph County voters Tuesday. In the race to be the Republican nominee for sheriff, Art Moystner beat Douglas Fritz by a 2-1 margin.