GREENFIELD — There won’t be a race for Greenfield mayor or clerk-treasurer in November’s municipal election.
Incumbent Mayor Chuck Fewell and deputy clerk-treasurer Lori Elmore will run unopposed in the upcoming election for mayor and clerk-treasurer, respectively.
The deadline for parties to file candidacy paperwork was noon Monday. While a dozen independents have filed to run for seats in cities and towns across the county, no one stepped up to challenge Fewell or Elmore.
Fewell, who handily defeated city councilwoman Judy Swift in the May primary, was excited to learn he’d have no opponent in the General Election. He hopes it says something about voters’ confidence in his ability to lead the city.
“I think it shows we’re trying to do the right things, and maybe some people are happy with what we trying to do,” he said.
Although he won’t need to campaign during the next several months, Fewell said he plans to continue to meet with residents as he has the past few months.
And he’s looking forward to serving four more years, he said.
“We’re going to stay focused on what we’re doing,” he said. “I’m very pleased, and I’m very, very excited.”
Elmore, who has been working closely with current clerk-treasurer Larry Breese for the past year, said she’s excited to focus on learning the job during the next four months.
“It’s really humbling to think nobody ran (against me) for the position,” she said. “I’m really lucky.”
She said she plans to continue to work with Breese to learn everything she can about his position before the transition in January.
As candidates running unopposed focus on 2016 and beyond, those in contested races have their eyes on Nov. 3.
Tonya Drake Davis and Jeff Ratliff, both independents, have filed to run for Fortville clerk-treasurer.
Independent G. Lenzy Hendrix Jr. has filed to run for Fortville Town Council District 1. That race now has four candidates vying for two seats.
Debbie Duke, an independent, has tossed her hat in the ring for Shirley clerk-treasurer. She faces independent Teresa Hester and Republican Kassandra Jessup.
Independent David Elliott has filed to run for a Wilkinson Town Council at-large seat.
While the Republican Party has a candidate slated for nearly every office on the ballot, the Democratic Party has only one candidate on the ballot.
Michael Tucker, who unsuccessfully ran for Hancock County Council in 2014, is running against incumbent Gary McDaniel in the race for Greenfield City Council District 3.
It’s one of only two contested races in Greenfield this election.
Greenfield resident Donna Steele recently filed as an independent to run in the District 5 council race against incumbent Republican Kerry Grass.
Steele has launched a website and Facebook page for her campaign.
She said she filed to run for office because she’d like to get more involved in the community. She already is involved with the Greenfield Coalition and Greenfield Main Street, two community-based groups focused on city development.
“Working for the city in such a direct way would really allow me to do all the good I want to do,” she said. “I’ve had tremendous encouragement from people all over the city, not just my district.”
Grass said he’s ready for the competition, noting he had seven opponents in 2008 during his first bid for a seat on the council.
Currently, he’s in his second term and serves as council president.
“I’m feeling very positive,” he said. “I’m very happy with what I’m doing, and I think I’m making a difference for citizens in District 5.”
