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TodAy’S Weather Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 Today: Partly to mostly sunny. Wind gusting to 20 mph. Arcadia | Atlanta | Cicero | Sheridan Tonight: Clouds increase. Showers after midnight. Carmel | Fishers | Noblesville | Westfield NEWS GATHERING Like & PARTNER Follow us! HIGH: 56 LOW: 35 DEMOCRATS JOIN THE PARTY Three Dems taste electoral success KEY RACES See full election results on Page 2 for first time in Fishers and Carmel Public Question By FRED SWIFT On passage of the Carmel Clay Schools ReadTheReporter.com safety and mental health referendum Yes No For the first time in his- 9,826 votes 4,509 votes tory, Democrats have been elected to city councils in Westfield Mayor Fishers and Carmel. Andy Cook (R) Donald Rainwater (L) While it may not seem 3,168 votes 1,991 votes like winning a total of three seats out of 11 contested Carmel Council West council races is impressive, DeLong Vare Nelson Debra Minott (R) Miles Nelson (D) it is a major breakthrough 1,151 votes 1,467 votes for Democrats. And, it is “This is a major change when you look at the county. The county likely to build momentum has always been solid Republican. This time many of our candidates Fishers Council At Large for next year. were in the high 40 percent of the vote range, and we had three Rich Block (R) Todd Zimmerman (R) candidates that won. 4,390 votes 4,983 votes In Fishers, Democrat “We have now broken into Carmel and Fishers that have previously Samantha DeLong defeated been 100 percent Republican council. Now we have a voice on those Jocelyn Vare (D) Ceclia Coble (R) Republican Eric Moeller by councils and hopefully a higher degree of transparency and question 4,950 votes 5,097 votes 32 votes, and Jocelyn Vare answering, which the councils have avoided over the past years. bested Rich Block by more “It is a major change. Last year we had the first Democrat elected Fishers Council North Central in 58 years. Now we have the first Democrat elected to city councils. than 500 votes for an at- Sam DeLong (D) Eric Moeller (R) “A lot of people are moving into the county with a very high 599 votes 567 votes large council seat. Republi- educational and income level. They are more inclined to look and ask cans prevailed for the other questions of the candidates. seven. Mayor Scott Fadness People are interested in what’s going on. That the councils have was re-elected without op- been approving things without any public comment is one of the factors that we promoted a lot with our candidates.” Two women make position. In Carmel, Miles Nel- – Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Joe Weingarten history in Fishers son, a Democrat, won over By LARRY LANNAN Debra Minott in a new has already begun forming his new admin- Reporter photo by Jeff Jellison council district by a margin of 1,467 to istration. Hamilton County Democratic Party LarryInFishers.com 1,151, while the GOP won the other eight Jerry Cook was elected to the town Chairman Joseph Weingarten (left) seats on the nine-member council. Mayor council in Cicero over Brad Baker in the The Rails Restau- and Hamilton County Election Board rant was the scene of a Jim Brainard got more than 10,000 votes only race on the town's ballot. member Democrat Greg Purvis but didn't need them. He was unopposed. Republicans were surprised and disap- raucous election night (right) review election results at the Republicans swept the election for pointed by the Democratic wins in Fishers party Tuesday as sup- council in Noblesville and in Westfield and Carmel, but their fortunes may not be Government and Judicial Center. porters of Democrat where Mayor Andy Cook fended off a chal- fading as straight ticket Republican votes their hardcore supporters to the polls. Jocelyn Vare gathered lenge from Libertarian Donald Rainwater outnumbered straight ticket Democrat Carmel had the best turnout at just under to celebrate an historic 3,168 to 1,991, and Mike Johns won the votes 8,878 to 1,867 countywide. The total 20 percent, and that may have been because electoral victory in her only contested council race over indepen- voter turnout was very low at only 15.6 per- of a school tax referendum in which voters campaign for Fishers City Council. dent Kate Snedeker. cent countywide. were asked to consider increasing property The final results showed Ms. Vare gar- Voters made Chris Jensen officially the Democrats had figured they would do taxes to provide more school security. That nering 25.49 percent of the vote, besting city's mayor-elect. He was unopposed and better with a low turnout if they could get referendum passed with 69 percent approval. Republican City Council President Rich Block, who received 22.61 percent of the votes cast. Cecilia Coble and Todd Zim- merman both easily won re-election to at- large council seats. Looking at Election Day buzz I moved to Fishers in 1991, and never saw a Democrat get very close to winning a municipal election; sometimes the whole election was canceled when no Democrats stepped forward to run. That’s why this is an historic election. The cheers, selfies and celebration were something to see for Jocelyn Vare as she par- tied with her friends and supporters. But there was another important upset Tuesday, with Democrat Sam DeLong defeating incumbent Eric Moeller, by a margin of 32 votes. Reporter photo by Denise Moe Republican incumbents David George Carmel Firefighter Tim Griffin (left) and and John Weingardt both won re-election Carmel Clay Schools Superintendent to their council seats. Dr. Michael Beresford take a moment This election will not shift the political to pose for the Reporter’s camera on make-up of Fishers city government. Re- Election Day. publicans still hold a 7-2 majority on the Reporter photo by Jeff Jellison council, the mayor’s office, along with the (Above) Noblesville Precinct 12 Inspector Mike Corbett delivers voting city clerk and city judge. But the simple Beresford responds results to Hamilton County Clerk’s Office employee Shelly France. fact that two women, both Democrats, were (Below) State Senator Victoria Spartz, David Brooks, Carmel City Councilor winners in this general election has made after Carmel voters Laura Campbell, Congresswoman Susan Brooks and Judge Rick Campbell political history here. get out the vote and do some last-minute campaigning on Election Day. I was with Hamilton County Democrat- approve referendum ic Chairman Joe Weingarten at the Hamil- ton County Judicial Center as the election The REPORTER Carmel Clay Schools Superintendent results were coming in. Joe was smiling ear Michael Beresford released this statement to ear. His candidates were not only com- following the passage of the referendum in- petitive, but won some races this year. tended to secure funding for school safety and mental health programs. “Tonight’s results reflect a supportive community who care deeply about the safe- VOTER TURNOUT ty and well-being of all Carmel Clay School students. With the passage of this referen- Carmel: 19.5% dum, we can begin adding important layers Cicero: 15.9% of school safety to our schools and wrap re- sources around students who are struggling. Fishers: 13.6% Thank you to our Carmel community, as Noblesville: 11.3% well as to the Carmel SOS parent group, for their support and understanding that a safe Westfield: 17.2% school environment is essential for students to learn, grow and thrive.” Reporter photo by Denise Moe County Average: 15.62% 2 News MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS Only contested races have their winner(s) highlighted in red. Incumbents are denoted by a * next to their names. Common Council, District 1 (VOTE FOR 1) CARMEL FISHERS MIKE DAVIS (R) ................................100% ......................786 votes Public Question: School Safety & Mental Health Funding Mayor (VOTE FOR 1) YES ................................................. 68.55%..................9,826 votes SCOTT FADNESS* ...........................100% ...................6,419 votes Common Council, District 2 (VOTE FOR 1) PETE SCHWARTZ (R) .....................100% ......................816 votes NO ................................................... 31.45%..................4,509 votes Clerk-Treasurer (VOTE FOR 1) Common Council, District 3 (VOTE FOR 1) Mayor (VOTE FOR 1) JENNIFER L. KEHL* (R) ..................100% ...................6,218 votes AARON SMITH (R) ...........................100% ......................519 votes JAMES BRAINARD* (R) ...................100% .................10,277 votes City Court Judge (VOTE FOR 1) Common Council, District 4 (VOTE FOR 1) City Clerk (VOTE FOR 1) DANIEL E. HENKE* (R) ....................100% ...................6,172 votes WIL HAMPTON* (R) .........................100% ......................739 votes SUE WOLFGANG (R) ......................100% .................10,196 votes City Council, At Large (VOTE FOR 3) Common Council, District 5 (VOTE FOR 1) City Court Judge (VOTE FOR 1) RICH BLOCK* (R) ........................... 22.61%..................4,390 votes JASON MYERS (D) ........................ 32.61%.....................301 votes BRIAN POINDEXTER* (R) ...............100% .................10,299 votes CECILIA COBLE* (R)...................... 26.25%..................5,097 votes GREG O’CONNOR* (R) ................. 67.39%.....................622 votes City Council, At Large (VOTE FOR 3) JOCELYN VARE (D) ....................... 25.49%..................4,950 votes TIMOTHY HANNON (R) ................. 33.01%..................9,175 votes TODD ZIMMERMAN* (R) ............... 25.66%..................4,983 votes Common Council,