It’s another election year, and candidates for city and town office may begin filing today at the county election office. The filing period runs until noon on Feb. 8. Candidates must file their intent to run in the May 7 primary election. Winners will advance to the November general election.
All eight of Hamilton County’s municipalities will elect officials this year. This includes mayors, city clerks, city judges and city council members in Noblesville, Fishers, Carmel and Westfield in addition to town council members and clerk-treasurers in Sheridan, Cicero, Arcadia and Atlanta.
Noblesville is certain to have a new mayor since incumbent John Ditslear is not running for re-election. Mayors Jim Brainard of Carmel, Andy Cook in Westfield and Scott Fadness at Fishers have announced they will seek re-election.
All current officeholders are Republican, and it will be in the GOP primary where the most activity is expected. Democrats may run for some municipal offices after making a strong if unsuccessful bid for several county offices in last fall’s election.
With the beginning of filing, more candidates are expected to announce their plans to run soon. Most of the incumbent city council members in Noblesville and Carmel have indicated plans to run for another term. Carmel, which is now a second-class city, will have a nine-member council instead of the current seven.
Officials elected this year will take office on Jan. 1, 2020. The Reporter will run the names of candidates as they file.