The race for District 1 Columbus City Council is now a little more crowded.
Two political newcomers — a Democrat and an independent — will challenge incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch, who narrowly won the Republican nomination for District 1 City Council on May 7.
On Tuesday, the Bartholomew County Democratic Party slated Jerone Wood, 30, to be the party’s candidate for District 1 in November.
A few weeks earlier, Michael Kinder, 28, successfully filed as an independent candidate for City Council District 1. On March 29, Kinder turned in a petition with 35 signatures to run as an independent, said Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.
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The county clerk’s office has verified the signatures, and Kinder has met all requirements to officially be on the ballot in November for District 1 City Council, Phelps said.
Kinder, a Cummins, Inc. engineer who serves on the Columbus Economic Development Commission, said he is running because he wants to serve the community.
“I have been getting more involved in the community,” Kinder said. “I’ve been attending city council for over two years. I want to be part of the decisions that drive Columbus forward.”
If elected, Kinder said his priorities would be public safety, attracting and retaining talented people to serve in the community, fiscal responsibility, infrastructure and transparency and communication.
“I chose to be an independent because I didn’t want to ever feel pressure to fall in line with a party direction or decision,” Kinder said. “… I’m here to serve people, not a party. That’s why I chose to run as an independent.”
Kinder is a native of the St. Louis area and moved to Columbus six years ago. He said he has lived in District 1 for the past three years.
Wood, a leasing consultant at the Monarch Crossing Apartments, said he believes he can “do some great things in the community.”
“I’m running because I believe this is a great time to bring some change in Columbus and see some things come to the forefront,” Wood said.
More specifically, if elected, Wood said his priorities would be addressing the opioid crisis, mentoring the city’s youth and providing more opportunities for the homeless.
Previously known as “Jerome” Wood, campaign literature that Wood has already generated, as well as his social media site, now list his first name as “Jerone.”
Wood explained that “Jerone” is the name that appears on his birth certificate and driver’s license. Wood said family members started calling him “Jerome” as a a child and it stuck. However, he said he has opted to use “Jerone” on the ballot “because it’s my legal name.”
His name will appear as “Jerone” on the ballot, according to paperwork filed with the Bartholomew County Clerk’s office.
Bunch, the incumbent, who just a week and half ago had no opponents on the ballot for the November election, said Friday he is still ready to run a strong campaign and see what voters say in November.
“It doesn’t the change the message we want to get out and what we want to do,” Bunch said. “We have got to get people to get out there and vote and show support for whomever.”
“Every vote counts,” he said.
In just a week since the primary, the Bartholomew County Democratic Party has slated one other candidate on the November ballot and now has candidates running for every race except mayor and city clerk treasurer. On May 9, the party tapped Katea Ravega, an attorney, to replace Nancy Hoover on the ballot for District 3 City Council. Hoover withdrew from the race on April 2 for health reasons.
“We are really very pleased with the people we have running for office,” said Bob Hyatt, chair of the Bartholomew County Democratic Party. “I think they’re all just exceptionally qualified. We’ve got a lot of diversity in our group. I think they’re all great people to serve the community.”
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Age: 28
Current occupation: Cummins Inc. engineer
Education: Bachelor of science in automotive technology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Previous elected offices held: None
Community organization memberships and service: Serves on the Columbus Economic Development Commission
Family: Unmarried, no children
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Age: 30
Current occupation: Leasing consultant at Monarch Crossing Apartments
Education: Bachelor of arts in criminology and communication from Indiana State University
Previous elected offices held: None
Community organization memberships and service: Serves as a track coach for Columbus East High School
Family: Wife, Cierra; four children
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Age: 64
Occupation: Retired tool maker
Education: Graduated from Columbus High School in 1973. Attended classes at Ball State University.
Previous elected offices held: Has represented District 1 on the Columbus City Council since 2011.
Community involvement: Works with State Street Area Association Ordinance Review Committee; Columbus Housing Authority; Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization; chairman of Columbus Parking Committee, and serves in several capacities at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Family: Divorced, two adult children.
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Tuesday, Nov. 5 is the day for the fall municipal election.
Voter registration for the fall election ends Oct. 7.
To register to vote, visit the voter registration office at the Bartholomew County Courthouse or online, visit indianavoters.com/.
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