Local election night winners talk plans for the future

FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The 2024 Indiana Primary Election has concluded and for the winners, the true race towards November’s general election has just begun.

WTWO caught up with a number of candidates who won contested races throughout the Wabash Valley.

Here’s what they had to say coming off their primary victories.

Chris Switzer

Incumbent Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer was victorious on Tuesday night, fending off a primary challenge from Anthony Rubinacci.

When WTWO caught up with Switzer after the results had been announced, he said winning feels good.

“Dude, it feels awesome,” Switzer said. “This is a great and humbling experience. There is still a lot of work left to do here in Vigo County and I am excited to get to continue to work on that into the summer and into the fall and gear up for another election later this year.”

“I think that the community knows that I love this community and I think that we saw tonight that the community agrees with a lot of the things that we are doing as commissioners right now,” Switzer continued. “I am excited to continue that process on into the summer, get these things over the finish line, and gear up for another election in November.”

Dr. Janie Myers

Incumbent Vigo County Coroner Dr. Janie Myers defeated challenger John Fitzpatrick on Tuesday.

“I’m very excited,” Dr. Myers remarked. “I believe my team worked really hard to get this win. I’m glad people realize what is the truth … I’m just excited that I was able to be the candidate going forward in the general election.”

“I’m appreciative and thoroughly grateful for the support they have in me for voting for me,” Dr. Myers continued. “I am always there to answer any questions, I know there was a lot of back and forth. I want to try and clear some of that up and make sure people know going forward that I am all about honesty, integrity, and compassion.”

On the Republican side, Travis Norris ran unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.

Joe Millspaugh Jr.

Incumbent Joe Millspaugh Jr. defeated challenger Kira Dent in the Republican primary for Knox County Coroner.

“Thank you, I can’t thank you enough, my wife, my children, my grandchild, my team,” Millspaugh Jr. said. “My team has been spectacular, I had almost 20 people out there today campaigning for me.”

“Really going to work with the Knox County Council and Commissioners to find us a permanent home,” Millspaugh Jr. said in referencing the lack of a permanent coroner’s office. “We really need to get underneath a building somewhere, bring all of our records in, continue on our data management plan, try to get a grant for more equipment and continue what we’ve been doing, serving the people.”

No Democrat ran in the primary for Knox County Coroner.

Bruce Borders

Incumbent Bruce Borders fended off dual challengers in Kellie Streeter and Jeff Ellington in the race for the Republican nomination for Indiana State Representative District 45.

“When you’ve had campaigns and tough races before, you simply, you just don’t give up,” Borders said. “You simply do not give up. Even when things look overwhelming and hopeless, you just go ‘alright, one more door.'”

No Democrat ran in the primary for this seat. District 45 covers Sullivan and Greene counties, and parts of Vigo, Knox, and Daviess counties.

Alan Morrison

Alan Morrison of Brazil was able to beat Tim Yocum out of Vermillion County in the Republican primary for Indiana State Representative District 42.

Morrison said the work has just begun.

“We’ll get out and work hard again and do our best to talk with folks and listen to them,” Morrison said. “You know one of the things I really heard a lot was property taxes. Especially from our farmers and that they’re getting hit pretty hard. I think it’s something that we need to address immediately up at the state house. So, that will be something I’m speaking with my colleagues with and I think that it’s something we need to remedy pretty quickly.”

“We needed better representation,” Morrison continued. “Conservative leadership over in the statehouse. And I didn’t think that we’re getting that. So, that is what really drove me to run the first time and as I’ve been in and become more experienced and some of the issues that are really important to me are energy and how we move forward. Obviously schools is always going to be top of mine for everybody and how we fund them and how we make sure that students are getting the best outcome as possible. So, I’ve been really kind of across the board on what I’ve worked on and I’ll certainly continue to do that.”

Chad Harmon ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket in this race. District 42 covers the Terre Haute and Brazil areas and up north to Parke and Vermillion counties.

For the full contested election results for the Wabash Valley click here .

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