Contested Races, School Funding Referendum Bring Attention to Election Day

 
 

Voters head to the polls today in Starke County to weigh-in on several key issues.

There are only a handful of competitive seats in Knox, Hamlet, and North Judson. Tony Radkiewicz, Sr. (R) will square-off against Tim Manns (D) for a spot on the Knox City Council in District 4.

In Hamlet, Betty Barnett (R) and incumbent Kristina Pitts (D) are vying for clerk-treasurer. Incumbent town councilman Dave Kesvormas, Sr. (R) and Dean Goble (D) will be the choice in Hamlet’s Ward 2.

North Judson, however, appears to be garnering the most attention this Election Day as voters will not only select candidates in contested races, but will also be voting on a referendum affecting the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation.

In the North Judson Clerk’s race, Incumbent Donna Henry (R) is being challenged by Alicia (Amidei) Collins (D). North Judson’s Ward 2 Town Council seat is also considered competitive as Joan Haugh (D) is vying for the seat against incumbent council president Wendy Hoppe (R).

The school funding referendum looks to increase the property tax levy on those residing within the school corporation’s jurisdiction for a period. Voters can visit https://gateway.ifionline.org/CalculatorsDLGF/RefCalculator.aspx to calculate their estimated maximum property tax increase with the Department of Local Government Finance Referendum Calculator. School corporation officials have repeatedly said the rate will drop by 20-cents per $100 of assessed valuation after the first year. 

Polls open at 6 a.m. local time and close at 6 p.m. local time. We will have complete election results on the air and online this evening.