News

Allen County GOP primary shuffles makeup of council, EACS board member in commissioner race

89.1 WBOI | By Tony Sandleben

Published May 7, 2024 at 11:57 PM EDT

Campaign signs along Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne on Indiana's 2024 Primary Day

Allen County’s GOP primary Tuesday night shook up the county government.

Ron Turpin is running for Allen County Commissioner

With Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters retiring at the end of the year, his seat had an open Republican primary for the first time in 20 years. County Councilman Tom Harris and East Allen County Schools Board Member Ron Turpin both ran for the position with Turpin edging out a victory, according to unofficial results. He said he looked forward to bringing change to the county government.

“Let’s do things in a different way,” Turpin said. ”It’s a new spirit of collaboration. I campaigned on an act model.”

Tom Harris gave a concession speech on his run for Allen County Commissioner at the Allen County Republican headquarters on Tuesday. Harris emphasized that this did not signal the end of his time working with the county, but rather the beginning.

In his concession speech, Harris said his career in government was not over.

“I want to make sure that we are doing good government locally, and I will keep that pursuit up maybe now more than ever,” Harris said.

Harris will remain on the Allen County Council along with Republican At-Large County Councilmen Robert Armstrong and Ken Fries. However, incumbent Kyle Kerley will not. In another tight race, according to unofficial results, Kerley lost to newcomer Lindsey Hammond Kerley had been on council since 2018.

As of now, Turpin is unopposed going into the November election.