Editing Clark County, Indiana (section)

==Government==
For most of its history, Clark County was a Democratic-leaning county, its politics more in line with neighboring Kentucky than Indiana. However, the county voted for the national winner in all but 2 elections from 1924 to 2004 (1952, 1968). Since the start of the second millennium, the county has trended strongly Republican, moving away from its previous near-bellwether status.
{{See also|Government of Indiana}}

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Indiana]], and by the [[Indiana Code]].

'''County Council'''

The seven-member county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Four representatives are elected from county districts, and three are elected at large. The council members serve four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.<ref name="inc3623">{{Cite web |last=[[Indiana Code]] |title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3 |url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005194234/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |archive-date=October 5, 2008 |access-date=September 16, 2008 |publisher=IN.gov}}</ref><ref name="inc2102">{{Cite web |last=Indiana Code |title=Title 2, Article 10, Section 2 |url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227171739/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2004 |access-date=September 16, 2008 |publisher=IN.gov}}</ref>

'''Board of Commissioners'''

The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.<ref name=inc3623/><ref name=inc2102/>

'''Courts'''

The Clark County Judicial System consists of 8 Courts:
* Clark Circuit Court (Judge Daniel Moore)
* Clark Superior Court #1 (Judge Vicki Carmichael)
* Clark Superior Court #2 (Judge Jerome Jacobi)
* Clark Superior Court #3 (Judge Joe P. Weber)
* Jeffersonville City Court – Office Expired December 31, 2015
* Charlestown City Court (Judge George Waters)
* Clarksville Town Court (Judge Samuel Gwin)
* Sellersburg Town Court (Judge Thomas Lowe)

By statute, the Circuit and Superior Courts have unlimited jurisdiction with the power to hear civil and criminal cases. City and Town Courts have jurisdiction to hear Ordinance violations and misdemeanor prosecutions, as well as civil actions where the amount in controversy does not exceed five hundred dollars ($500). Judgments in the City and Town Courts may be appealed de novo to the Clark Circuit Court. In addition, Clark Superior Court #3 maintains a Small Claims Docket. Local Rules of Practice may also limit the ability of a Court to hear certain cases. Judgments in other Courts may be appealed to the Indiana Court of appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court.

The Circuit and Superior Court Judges are assisted by 3 Magistrates, who are appointed and serve at the direction of the elected Judges.

The Circuit and Superior Court Judges are elected on a partisan basis, must reside within the county, and serve six-year terms. The City and Town Court Judges are elected to four-year terms on a partisan basis, and must reside within the City/Town.

Felony and Misdemeanor prosecutions are filed by the Prosecuting Attorney, who is elected on a partisan basis, must reside within the county, and serves a term of four years. The current Prosecuting Attorney, Steven D. Stewart, has been in Office since 1989.<ref name=inc2102/>

'''County officials'''

The county has several other elected offices, including [[prosecuting attorney]], [[sheriff]], [[coroner]], [[auditor]], [[treasurer]], [[recorder of deeds|recorder]], [[surveyor]], and circuit [[court clerk]]. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions must declare a [[political party|party]] affiliation and be residents of the county.<ref name=inc2102/>

===Elected county officials===
Clark County is part of [[Indiana's 9th congressional district]] and is represented in Congress by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Trey Hollingsworth]].;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conressman Trey Hollingsworth |url=https://hollingsworth.house.gov/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226025253/https://hollingsworth.house.gov/ |archive-date=February 26, 2017 |access-date=November 19, 2017}}</ref> [[Indiana Senate]] districts 45 and 46;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indiana Senate Districts |url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070750/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm |archive-date=January 15, 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2011 |publisher=State of Indiana}}</ref> and [[Indiana House of Representatives]] districts 66, 70, 71, 72 and 73.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indiana House Districts |url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070752/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm |archive-date=January 15, 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2011 |publisher=State of Indiana}}</ref>

Due to decadal redistricting and the 2022 general election, Clark County is now represented in the [[Indiana General Assembly]] by District 45 Senator [[Chris Garten]], District 66 Representative [[Zach Payne]], District 70 Representative [[Karen Engleman]], and District 71 Representative [[Rita Fleming]].

The Clark County Council has 5 elected officials (as of May 2018). The Clark County Council of 2019 includes:
{{div col}}
* Barbara Hollis (District 1)
* Janne Newland (District 2)
* Brittney Ferree (District 3)
* Steve Doherty (District 4)
* David Abbott (at-large)
* John Miller (at-large)
* Kevin Vissing (at-large)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clark County Indiana County Council |url=https://www.co.clark.in.us/index.php/clark-county-indiana-government/clark-county-indiana-county-council |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422193226/https://co.clark.in.us/index.php/clark-county-indiana-government/clark-county-indiana-county-council |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=March 22, 2021}}</ref>
* R. Scott Lewis (Attorney)
{{div col end}}
The three elected Clark County Commissioners are (as of 2019):
* Jack Coffman
* Connie Sellers
* Bryan Glover<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clark County Indiana Commissioners |url=https://www.co.clark.in.us/index.php/clark-county-indiana-government/clark-county-indiana-commissioners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218111023/https://www.co.clark.in.us/index.php/clark-county-indiana-government/clark-county-indiana-commissioners |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=www.co.clark.in.us}}</ref>

Other county office holders as determined by the 2022 general election:
{{div col}}
* Prosecutor: Jeremy Mull
* Sheriff: Scottie Maples
* Clerk: Ryan Lynch
* Auditor: Danny Yost
* Treasurer: Monty Snelling
* Recorder: Steve Gill
* Assessor: Butch Love
* Surveyor: David Ruckman<ref>{{Cite web |title=General election results |url=https://co.clark.in.us/index.php/component/rsfiles/download-file/files?path=Elections%252FResults%252F2022%252FGeneral%2BElection%252F2022%2BGeneral%2BElection%2BResults%2BSummary.pdf&Itemid=225 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217224353/https://co.clark.in.us/index.php/component/rsfiles/download-file/files?path=Elections%252FResults%252F2022%252FGeneral%2BElection%252F2022%2BGeneral%2BElection%2BResults%2BSummary.pdf&Itemid=225 |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |access-date=December 17, 2022}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
{{PresHead|place=Clark County, Indiana|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |access-date=April 4, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|34,734|22,810|1,260|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|33,668|23,093|1,296|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|30,035|18,808|2,946|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|25,450|20,807|1,021|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|25,326|21,953|605|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|24,495|17,648|194|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|19,417|17,360|559|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|14,396|17,799|3,721|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|13,333|17,460|5,901|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|16,544|14,528|120|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|19,419|14,138|228|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|15,508|14,137|1,536|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|12,732|16,670|329|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|16,111|10,838|164|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|10,305|11,493|5,088|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|7,701|17,330|125|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|12,803|14,431|70|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|12,483|11,871|79|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|11,190|11,703|132|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|7,001|10,953|199|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|7,241|9,778|62|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|6,044|9,015|45|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|5,536|10,116|244|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,881|9,501|140|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,056|6,193|36|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,944|5,218|336|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|6,466|6,729|162|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,173|3,572|131|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|805|3,315|2,655|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|3,706|4,085|168|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,644|3,587|237|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|3,855|4,134|79|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,897|3,785|76|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|3,280|4,013|122|Indiana}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|3,206|3,788|49|Indiana}}