McCORDSVILLE — Two Republicans are running for the McCordsville Town Council District 2 seat in the upcoming May primary. Greg Brewer is challenging incumbent Bryan Burney.
The Daily Reporter recently interviewed both candidates. Here is what they said about their qualifications for the office:
Greg Brewer
Brewer — a financial adviser at Cornerstone Financial Services in Greenfield — described himself as a doer and a problem solver. The Greenfield native moved from Lawrence to McCordsville in July.
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He lives in the Woodhaven addition in the southern part of town, an area he feels deserves more attention than it’s getting from town leaders.
While it’s the first time Brewer is seeking public office, he served on a former neighborhood’s homeowners’ association for 12 years, eight of which he spent as president.
Brewer said he wants McCordsville’s current and expected future growth to be sensible.
“We’re a town now, but as the population’s growing, we’re going to be a city before we know it,” he said.
He added he understands the desire to build McCordsville’s tax base, but said it shouldn’t come at the cost of what he described as the town’s positive atmosphere.
“I remember riding my bike everywhere and being able to do whatever I wanted to do because it was a safe community,” he said of growing up in Greenfield. “I want to try to build that for McCordsville.”
The town can attract sensible growth by investing in public safety, Brewer said. He emphasized that he feels McCordsville’s volunteer firefighters are capable in their jobs, but said the town will soon be too big to continue having firefighters rushing from home or work to the fire station before heading out on calls. Brewer said he also recognizes that the town is not yet equipped to build new fire stations and switch to paid firefighters as quickly as what the local population growth demands.
That’s why he wants to explore developing a fire territory in western Hancock County between Vernon Township and neighboring Buck Creek Township, he continued. He said Buck Creek Township, with its full-time firefighters, could contribute its understanding of the required personnel issues for the endeavor while McCordsville has equipment and buildings to offer.
Brewer said he’s also concerned about congestion at County Roads 600N and 600W and wants to explore the possibility of equipping the intersection with turn signals.
He said he does not oppose the new town center under consideration for McCordsville, but he feels local officials shouldn’t be too heavily involved.
“I’m not a big believer that towns and cities should be in the real estate development business,” he said. “That’s what private investors are for. They should take on that risk.”
Investing in public safety and infrastructure would be far more effective at drawing development, he continued.
“If you’re going to make the investment in public safety, care about your community, then I know if I come in and invest, it will be protected,” he said.
Bryan Burney
Burney is in the final year of his first term on the council after running unopposed in 2015.
“I like the collegiality of the staff and the council, the way everybody works together, works toward a shared vision,” he said.
Burney started attending town meetings before he was elected. He said he always found information town officials and their consultants shared informative and interesting.
Local leaders continue to work on many of the issues they’ve been working on since Burney started on the council, he said. He added he wants to continue seeing them through. Some of those issues include outgrowing the town hall, a lack of a town center and expanding trails.
Burney said he also often thinks about getting a fire station north of the railroad tracks that cross through town. The McCordsville Fire Department is south of the tracks. Burney said while the town has an agreement with Fishers firefighters to help in times of need, serious issues could arise if they were too busy during a north side McCordsville emergency while a parked or slow-moving train stretched through town.
“I think we have a pretty orderly agenda,” Burney said. “I’d just like to continue working down that list. I’m very pleased with the way it’s going.”
Burney is a retired radiologist and former president of the medical staff at St. Francis Hospital and Riverview Hospital. He’s also served on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Medical Society.
Burney has served on his homeowners’ association board for about 10 years and has served on other HOAs in the past as well.
He said his leadership roles in the medical field and in his neighborhoods have provided valuable experience for succeeding in government.
“You learn what things cost, you learn how people work together and who you can rely on to do what,” he said.
Burney also owns his own real estate company, which works on projects from major subdivisions to spec homes. The company is currently renovating properties that are vacant and in disrepair in northeastern Indianapolis.
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Age: 45
Party: Republican
Occupation: Financial adviser, Cornerstone Financial Services, Inc.
Political experience: None
Family: Wife Megan, two children
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Age: 69
Party: Republican
Occupation: Developer, retired radiologist
Political experience: In final year of first term on McCordsville Town Council
Family: Wife Virginia, three children
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McCordsville Town Council District 2 spans east of Mt. Comfort Road, and only eligible voters in that district can cast ballots in the Republican race. No Democrats have filed for the seat in the May 7 primary.
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