FORTVILLE — Fortville’s main street is growing, and the three candidates who are vying for a seat on its town council said they want to be personally involved in the area’s continued economic success.
Following the resignation of seven-year council member Bill Hiday, Republican Bob Sterrett took his place. Sterrett has been serving in the council’s vacant seat for the past four months, and will run for re-election this fall against independent candidates Frederick Fentz and Rebecca Davis.
After having a chance to get an inside look of how the town council operates, Sterrett said he’s now more excited to serve Fortville in this capacity than ever before.
Several businesses pop up in Fortville in the past six months alone, Sterrett said. He wishes continuing to serve his town while encouraging that rate of growth in any way he can along the way, he said.
There are great ideas being pushed forward regarding both commercial and residential development, particularly with regard to infrastructure improvement allowed by the stellar grant, Sterrett added. Now that he’s had a firsthand look at operating as a member of the town council, he’s eager to continue serving as a member of the team.
“I like the direction we’re going,” Sterrett said. “The council did a fantastic job before me, and I want to be part of that success moving forward.”
Frentz has lived in Fortville for 14 years, and he’s thought about throwing his hat in the ring for town council for a long time, he said.
Fentz said it’s important to him that people in Fortville know exactly what’s going on in their community, not letting sudden town legislation or policy changes get pushed forward unnoticed, he said.
Fentz said he wants to encourage transparency about the spending of taxpayer money on local projects, such as the building and upkeep of the trail toward Mt. Vernon Schools, he said.
Fentz recently stepped down from the mental health board for Hancock County in order to run for this office, a place where he felt he might be needed.
Sterrett was appointed to the town council last April, and was the only Republican on the ticket running for the seat in May. Lack of party diversity has long been a problem in the community, so this change could be a positive step toward intellectual diversity in the race, Fentz said.
Fentz said he is passionate about issues that affect the community he lives in, and wants to give constituents the opportunity to carefully consider the voices leading Fortville.
“I feel it’s time to get back, and I want to give people a choice this time,” he said. “I want to make sure everybody knows the issues and how we’re going to pay for this.”
Davis, also running as an independent candidate, also said she was interested in fostering the transparency of action taken by the council; she has a strong desire to get more of Fortville’s residents involved in local government, she said.
Davis, 20-year resident of the town, retired in April from a career working in the town’s utility office. She now has set her sights on dedicating her time to the people and government of Fortville, a community she’s grown to love.
Policy-wise, Davis also said she wants to have a hand in maintaining the town’s economic growth and rapid business development.
“I’ve worked at the town hall for 16 years, and I just find that most people don’t take enough interest,” Davis said. “I really want to get more people involved in the election process as well.”
