Submitted by Hamilton County Democratic Party
The Hamilton County Democratic Party has announced that Democrats are running for a majority of Fishers City Council seats: incumbent Councilors Jocelyn Vare (At-Large) and Crystal Neumann (North Central) are joined by candidates Howard Stevenson (At-Large), Bill McLellan (North West), Lane Skeeters (South Central), Bill Stuart (South West), and Samantha Chapman (North East). In addition, Janet Pritchett is running for Fishers City Clerk.
“We are incredibly excited to offer citizens better representation in November with this strong, qualified group of candidates,” Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Dayna Colbert said. “These talented candidates reflect the desires of today’s Fishers community: accelerating positive changes to make Fishers the best place in Indiana for all to live, work and raise a family. The Fishers community has changed a lot, and the next four years will set up Fishers’ next 40 years. These Democratic leaders will ensure Fishers has safe neighborhoods, diverse and economical housing, excellent schools, and great cultural and quality of life amenities, all without the political games plaguing Indianapolis and Washington, D.C.”
Colbert said the Democratic candidates will also work with Hamilton Southeastern Schools.
“Our candidates will be true partners with HSE Schools and fight for all those who work in Fishers but can’t afford to live in Fishers. We must ensure that Fishers is sustainable by attracting young professionals to Fishers. Our candidates will continue to grow Fishers in a fiscally responsible and livable way. And our Democrats will keep Fishers’ local government accountable to the residents, by listening and prioritizing our city’s true needs.”
The primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 2, and the General Election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 7. This group of candidates is the largest number to represent the Democratic Party on a Fishers municipal ballot ever, and Colbert says it reflects the increasing trend of Fishers voters identifying with and voting for Democrats.
The Hamilton County Democratic Party encourages voters to make their voices heard in the Democratic primary.
About the Candidates
Jocelyn Vare, At-Large
Jocelyn Vare is an At-Large member of Fishers City Council and currently serves as the first Democrat ever elected to Fishers municipal office. In 2022, she ran for Indiana State Senate to represent Fishers at the statehouse and earned over 16,000 votes from Fishers residents.
She is a 22-year resident of Fishers, the mom of two HSE Schools graduates, a local small business owner, a volunteer and a champion for the community she loves. She is a member of the Fishers Finance Committee and Fishers Arts + Culture Commission. She served as a committee chair for the successful HSE Schools referendum in 2016. She is a graduate of Fishers City Government Academy, Hamilton County Leadership Academy, Ball State’s Economic Development Course and Community Development Course.
In 2021, Vare was recognized as an Impact Award nominee, one of 30 alumni designated in the Hamilton County Leadership Academy’s 30-year history.
Crystal Neumann, North Central
Crystal Neumann serves as a member of Fishers City Council for the North Central district. She is a Latina first-generation American, with a passion to make a difference and become a role model for others. She is also passionate about sustainability efforts.
Neumann has a doctorate in business administration with her work being published in several journals, and she has presented at several national and international conferences. Her commitment and efforts toward making education affordable and accessible were recognized, in which she was selected as an honoree of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Excel 2017. She was also inducted into the Indiana Latino Leadership Circle in 2020 and Hoosier Women Forward in 2022.
Neumann is a 10-year resident of Fishers, mom of one HSE Schools graduate with another in eighth grade, and she has a commitment to serve her community.
Howard Stevenson, At-Large
Howard Stevenson is Managing Partner of Stevenson Legal Group, LLC and currently serves as President of the Fishers Plan Commission and Vice President of the Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals. He is a 23-year resident of Fishers, where he and his wife Christa of 33 years raised their three sons. He previously served as a school board member for Hamilton Southeastern Schools.
A lifelong Hoosier, Stevenson earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree in 1993 from Indiana University McKinney School of Law. After law school, he served as a judicial law clerk for the late Justice Richard M. Givan on the Indiana Supreme Court, becoming the first African American to serve in that capacity. He is also an adjunct law professor at the Indiana University McKinney School of Law.
Stevenson is a 30-year member of Eastern Star Church where he serves as a Superintendent of Sunday School.
Bill McLellan, North West
Bill McLellan and his family moved to Fishers five years ago from the west St. Louis suburbs for McLellan to start a business data analytics practice for a local software services company. This year marks 20 years that he has worked in data services, mostly in health care, and he now serves as a solutions architect for phData, a nationwide data consulting firm. His colleagues consider him a great listener who asks good questions and then thinks deeply and creatively about complex problems before suggesting pragmatic solutions.
McLellan regularly collaborates with clients who share different opinions about how to improve their technologies and businesses. He helps business groups as different as finance and marketing reach common understandings of their semantics. His friends and family consider him to be fiercely loyal, while at the same time warm, kind, and fun.
McLellan attends St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, an open and affirming congregation in Carmel, where he serves as the technology team lead.
Lane Skeeters, South Central
Lane Skeeters is Indiana raised, having grown up in Fort Wayne. After moving around the country, in 2015 Skeeters chose to make Fishers the place he would raise his two children. He attended the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne for Computer Animation, with additional coursework through Purdue for business and computer science.
In his career, Skeeters has focused on working with small businesses, startups, and others with the creative energy to build things. Currently his professional role is the Design Manager for Image360. He has also brought his talents to volunteer opportunities: offering workshops to local startups, design services to nonprofits and charitable organizations, and organizing community events to bring neighbors together.
Bill Stuart, South West
Bill Stuart currently serves on the Fishers Planning Commission and the Fishers Fire Merit Board, having done so since 2016. Stuart and his wife, Peggi, moved to Fishers 29 years ago so their four children could attend Hamilton Southeastern Schools. They are also blessed with four grandchildren and are expecting a new grandchild in July.
Stuart has been active in his community as President of his Homeowners’ Association and as a youth sports coach and board member. He graduated from Indiana University with a MPA and BA degrees from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
The Stuarts reside with their dog Cali in the Delaware Pointe neighborhood.
Samantha Chapman, North East
Samantha Chapman is the Indiana State Director of The Humane Society of the United States. She is a lifelong Hoosier and animal lover who has dedicated her life to changing policy and laws that better protect animals at the state and local level.
In 2022, she was honored with Manchester University’s Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award for her role in helping facilitate the historic transport of 4,000 beagles from a breeding research facility in Virginia. She graduated from Manchester College in 2012 magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Psychology and then earned her J.D. in 2015 from Indiana University McKinney School of Law.
After law school, Chapman served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Paul Mathias on the Indiana Court of Appeals and in private practice defended businesses in complex employment matters before joining the Secretary of State’s office as the Business Services Division Attorney and Special Counsel.
Chapman currently serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Indy Animals and Waldo’s Muttley Crew Animal Rescue.
Janet Pritchett, Clerk
Janet Pritchett is a Mortgage Advisor for Parker Mortgage. She and her husband Mike are 19-year Fishers residents and have four children. Their eldest is currently attending Purdue University and graduated from Fishers High School. Their three other children currently attend Fishers High School, with the next oldest graduating this year.
Pritchett has spent more than a decade serving the Fishers community and championing resident involvement. She has a passion for education and supporting children, family, and residents. She previously was elected as a school board member for the Hamilton Southeastern School district and served as President during her tenure.
Pritchett was pivotal in starting the Fishers Democrat Club and is also a proud member of the Fishers Rotary.