The County Line
While it may not appear obvious to the casual observer, last week’s local election may signal big changes. For one thing, next year Hamilton County may well be represented in Congress by a foreign-born woman: Victoria Spartz.
Already a state senator, she is an American success story. Born 42 years ago in Soviet-controlled Ukraine, she is now an American citizen and Republican nominee for the United States Congress.
How did it happen? It is probably a long story, but the short version is that she met Jason Spartz from Noblesville on a train in Europe.
They fell in love, married and decided to make their home in Noblesville where the Spartz family are longtime residents. The couple now have two daughters.
Victoria pursued her education here, earning an MBA degree from Indiana University, among other impressive credentials.
But, getting elected in November may not be as easy as other Republicans have experienced in previous years. And, this is where we get into another of the changes signaled by last week’s election.
For the first time in more than a century, the signs are that Republicans will have to campaign in the fall election. Democrats are on the prowl. Their candidates for president received 28,000 votes, which is an astounding number in Hamilton County, while GOP presidential candidates were getting 41,000. That margin is far less than Republicans want to see.
Democrat leadership, sensing a change in the wind, is pleading for candidates to fill the ticket which is now nearly devoid of county-level candidates.
More than 72,000 voters cast ballots in the primary, more than half by absentee or early voting. This may also signal change. This year the big early vote was largely due to the pandemic, but if voters find it convenient to vote in this way, it may become a popular method of voting and something election officials will have to prepare for.
Such a change would also mean candidates would need to find earlier and more effective ways of campaigning to catch voters’ attention well before the actual election date.
Yet another change which will be seen as a result of the recent election is the power shift on the County Council. A more fiscally progressive faction on the seven-member council added another member at the expense of the sometimes reluctant more conservative faction.
County Commissioners were thrilled over this change because some of their plans for meeting future needs, as they put it, have been delayed or sidetracked by the council in recent years.
The unexpected defeat of Kim Good for county treasurer signals change in that office as Susan Byer likely takes over in January. A staff shake-up is possible.
Amid all the possible changes, one position and one approach to county government is not likely to change. Steve Dillinger will remain a county commissioner, the longest-serving commissioner in the state. Assuming election in November, he will be headed for 36 years in office.