Blake Wolpert emerged the winner of a two-man race in the May 25 Republican Party caucus to select a new county commissioner. The District 1 seat was open after Chuck Braden resigned because of work commitments.

Wolpert defeated the only other candidate to file for the open seat 7-4 on the first ballot, Brown County GOP Chair Mark Bowman told the Brown County Democrat.

This is the second time Wolpert has served as a commissioner.

“He was a sitting commissioner around 2008 or so,” Bowman explained. “He completed the term of Guy Platters and then ran and served another four years. He’s been very involved in the (Brown County GOP) Central Committee.”

Wolpert said he decided to run because he’s “got a little bit more time now. My wife and I have always been active in politics and other organizations.”

Wolpert said he is semi-retired. He spoke with the Brown County Democrat while working on a charter trip for Travel Free Enterprise to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Carb Day.

The caucus was held Thursday night and was closed to the public. Precinct committee chairs and vice chairs, along with the Brown County Republican Party Central Committee were allowed to be present. Only Committee chairs or their proxies were eligible to vote.

The local Republicans dominate elected positions in the county. All but the surveyor are members of the GOP.