GREENFIELD — Zachary LaFavers isn’t your typical college student. Sure, he stays up late cramming for exams and binge-watches Netflix. But the Anderson University sophomore has his eye on something else: Getting elected mayor of Greenfield by beating a popular incumbent who’s 3½ times his age.
This isn’t the Democrat’s first time in local politics: LaFavers unsuccessfully ran for Hancock County Council as a write-in candidate in 2016 and lost in a Hancock County commissioner race last year.
But LaFavers, who will turn 22 in less than two weeks, said he’s confident voters will embrace his “positive and progressive” stance on city issues and choose him over 75-year-old Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell, who’s running for his second term in office. The two candidates will face off in November.
LaFavers, a Democrat, first showed an interest in politics as a teenager. A 2015 Greenfield-Central High School graduate, LaFavers frequently shared his views on local and national issues in classes.
Bill McKenna, radio and TV teacher at the high school, said he’s not surprised of LaFavers’ plan to run.
“He said, ‘I’m going to run for mayor one day,’” McKenna recalled. “And of course as a teacher, I’m like, ‘I completely support your choice and decision in that. But, be informed and have something meaningful to say.’”
LaFavers also grew close to the late Greenfield Mayor Dick Pasco through a political club at the high school around 2012. Pasco encouraged LaFavers to run for political office and taught him about the role of a mayor in local government.
Fewell said on Friday that he doesn’t know much about LaFavers, but said having an opponent in the general election — he ran unopposed in 2015 — won’t change how he campaigns for his second term.
“I’m glad that the local Republican party feels good enough and strong enough to have me run,” he said.
Although Lafavers admires Fewell’s leadership, he said Greenfield isn’t progressing quickly enough.
“I already had plans to stay in Greenfield, but when you talk about Greenfield with a younger crowd, it’s not really a place people want to stay at; it’s not really a place people want to hang out at,” he said.
The city needs a flourishing business environment to keep up with its anticipated growth, LaFavers said, putting it on a level playing field with Fishers and Noblesville. Bringing a Buffalo Wild Wings to Greenfield was a good step for the city in attracting young people, he said, but the area still lacks adequate retail, restaurants and other businesses, including one popular fast food joint he will target.
“One of my first steps is to get a Chick-fil-A so we not only can pull business from within our own community, but we can pull business on the outskirts (of the city),” he said. “We sort of have to be that center of all of these rural areas around us. We have to step up to the plate.”
Young people also enjoy bars and pubs, he said, contrasting Greenfield with the nightlife in Indianapolis.
“Now, I’m not saying let’s turn Greenfield into a bar-type environment. I don’t think the community could handle it,” LaFavers said. “But, I think if we have responsible establishments … and responsible adults coming together and enjoying alcoholic beverages and having a good time, that place could provide parties for certain local businesses.”
LaFavers, an Indiana Army National Guardsman, said he would target economic development on the west side of Greenfield — where he lives — so the area can rebound and house more businesses.
If elected, LaFavers said he would aim to downsize the city’s budget and lower taxes. LaFavers said he would look into more city grant opportunities and fundraising initiatives to obtain extra funds.
Some city departments, he said, should spend less on projects. The street department, for example, could look at alternative ways to build streets. While traveling in Europe, LaFavers learned about a road construction process that uses melted plastic instead of a traditional asphalt or concrete mix.
LaFavers said he would push to build those plastic streets in downtown Greenfield, moving the city into the future. He also wants to upgrade and connect trails to nearby Hancock County towns, but not extend the Pennsy Trail to Indianapolis. He would rather build a trail southwest to New Palestine.
Up until the November election, LaFavers said he will focus on campaigning and gaining recognition in the city. If chosen as the next mayor of Greenfield, LaFavers, who studies coaching at Anderson, said he would finish the first semester of his junior year at the end of 2019 and wait to finish up schooling. He would also look into part-time college opportunities and maybe take online classes.
Public service is an obligation, he added.
“If the city gifted me with that position as their mayor, I would of course put my life aside and on hold to fulfill the needs of the city,” he said. “I think my passion for public service rules over my personal life.”
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Age: 21
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Full-time student at Anderson University; Indiana Army National Guardsman
Political experience: None; has twice run for office.
Family: Single
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Filing for the May 7 primary ended at noon Friday. The following local Republican and Democratic candidates are running in the election:
Greenfield Mayor
Chuck Fewell (R)
Zachary LaFavers (D)
Greenfield Clerk-Treasurer
Lori Elmore (R)
Greenfield City Council, at-large (pick 2)
Mitch Pendlum (R)
Daniel Riley (R)
Joe Skvarenina (R)
Greenfield City Council, District 1
Gary McDaniel (R)
Christopher Beushausen (D)
Greenfield City Council, District 2
John Jester (R)
Thomas Lopez (R)
Greenfield City Council, District 3
George Plisinski II (R)
Greenfield City Council, District 4
Jeff Lowder (R)
Greenfield City Council, District 5
Kerry Grass (R)
Fortville Clerk-Treasurer
Missy Glazier (R)
Fortville Town Council, District 1 (pick 2)
Michael Frischkorn (R)
Tonya Drake Davis (R)
Libby Wyatt (R)
Fortville Town Council, District 2
Timothy Hexamer (R)
Becky Davis (R)
McCordsville Clerk-Treasurer
Staci Starcher (R)
McCordsville Town Council, District 1
Branden Williams
McCordsville Town Council, District 2
Bryan Burney (R)
Greg Brewer (R)
McCordsville Town Council, District 3
Larry Longman (R)
Cumberland Clerk-Treasurer
Erica Salmon (R)
Cumberland Town Council, District 3
Anna Pea (R)
Cumberland Town Council, District 4
J. Aaron Cutshaw (D)
Cumberland Town Council, District 5
Joseph Siefker (R)
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A complete list of candidates who have filed for municipal offices is on Page AX.
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