The County Line
A third candidate for Noblesville mayor? Very likely when a reception for Julie Church Kozicki is held Thursday afternoon at Forest Park. She is expected to join Chris Jensen and Mike Corbett in the 2019 Republican primary race. The winner will be the overwhelming favorite for election in November next year. No Democrat has yet indicated plans to run.
Incumbent John Dislear has indicated he will not run for re-election. He has presided over city government most of the past two decades while Noblesville has experienced dramatic growth, now reaching a population of nearly 60,000.
Ms. Koziciki is a lifelong Noblesville resident, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Church. Her family includes husband, Jeff, and two sons. She is an attorney, a three-term member of the Noblesville School Board and a graduate of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy.
The likely candidate has remained largely mum on her plans, but will apparently make her full intentions known at the 3:30 p.m. Forest Park gathering. Already in the race is City Council president Chris Jensen, who joined Ditslear earlier in issuing a 10-point plan called Noblesville Now. It proposes a number of public works projects for the city.
Also indicating he will run, but yet to make his formal announcement, is local business magazine publisher Mike Corbett. He has run twice previously without success against Ditslear.
It is early for the beginning of a city election campaign. This year’s statewide election is still more than two months away. Filing for the city election then begins in January of 2019.
The mayoral election campaign will have no shortage of issues. The ongoing debate over the future of the Nickel Plate Railroad is far from dead, although decisions have been made on new excursion train service north of Noblesville and redevelopment of the line to the south for use as a hiking and biking trail.
The nagging problem on downtown parking, the construction of a Pleasant Street bypass of downtown, the need for a new police headquarters and even school safety are all on the table. Most of all, the cost is certain to be a topic of interest.
Major bonding for many desired public works projects is an option, something that neighboring Carmel has used extensively. But, it can be controversial.
In any event, it should be one of the city’s more interesting campaigns as candidates take positions on these and other issues that are almost certain to develop in the coming months.