Scott Jones
McCORDSVILLE – The GOP victor with the most votes in this year’s primary for McCordsville Town Council is hoping for success again in the upcoming general election.
With nearly 400 votes, Scott Jones had the highest tally by over 100 in the May contest for the two at-large town council seats on the ballot. He and Bryan Burney defeated Republican incumbents Tom Strayer and Chad Gooding.
Now Jones is in another four-way race for the two spots. Along with Burney, he also faces Democrats Linda Robinson and Andrea Yovanovich in November.
Jones has lived in McCordsville for about eight years and owns several small businesses, including IT company Speedstream Technology Partners, through which he writes contracts and manages optical fiber installation infrastructure for AT&T.
In the months following the primary, Jones said he’s continued educating himself for the potential leadership role.
“Ever since I decided to run for council, I want to make sure that I’m up to speed on all of the issues,” he said. “So I’ve attended every town council meeting that there is. I review all the notes for all the other meetings online afterwards just to make sure that when I do take office, I’m actually prepared to govern and lead well.”
Jones maintains his apprehensions toward the large industrial buildings that have come and are coming near residences on the town’s south side.
“I have concerns about more warehouses being placed,” he said, adding he feels the election results signify voters do too.
He said he understands such developments garner more tax revenue, “but at some point we have to have a buffer between residential and warehouses.”
If elected, he’d focus efforts on securing more things for people to do in town.
“I think a lot of people venture out in all directions – whether it’s Fortville, Greenfield, Fishers – to go find things to do versus spending money inside of our town,” he said.
In that regard, he’s in favor of expanded park development in town, as well as drawing more retail to support McCordsville’s rapid residential growth.
“I’m optimistic about the town center being developed,” he said, referring to the town’s vision for commercial, residential and green-space developments on over 100 acres east of Mt. Comfort Road between Broadway and CR 750N. “I do have concerns about the roads, and infrastructure and the traffic. That’s something that we’re going to have to work through.”
Being a frequenter of town meetings, he’s aware of the multiple housing developments coming to and proposed for McCordsville.
“As I’ve sat through all the council meetings since I decided to run, the sheer amount of planning that the town’s team is doing is impressive, when they’re looking at everything from traffic flows, to the infrastructure, to can our sewage plant handle everything,” he said. “I feel like expanding the residential base of the town is fine. I do have, in the back of my mind, concerns about what effect does that have on our school systems, but I think that the town’s doing a good job of pre-planning for the expanded residential base.”
Jones’ wife is employed by the town of McCordsville. If elected, he said he would recuse himself from any decisions affecting her compensation.
“Ethically and legally I couldn’t make any decision that impacts her pay,” he said.
The Hancock County Election Board is slated to approve the general election ballot on Sept. 8. McCordsville Town Council’s race is one of several in the county, which also include Democrat Frank Rock Jr. challenging Republican incumbent Mary Noe for a Hancock County Council seat, and a four-way contest for three positions on the Buck Creek Township Advisory Board involving three Republicans and one Democrat.
Early voting is slated to start in mid-October, and Election Day is Nov. 8.
