MADISON COUNTY — Several council seats are contested in Madison County towns during the Nov. 6 election, including ones in Pendleton and Ingalls.

In Pendleton, Jessica Smith is the Republican incumbent in District 4 seeking re- election, but she’ll have to beat Democrat Steve Denny, who is looking to take her spot.

Smith, a Pendleton Heights High School and Manchester University graduate, is looking for a second term.

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Smith ran successfully in 2014 on a platform to help preserve the town’s historic footprint and said she has kept her promise, helping develop a revitalization grant program. She welcomes growth, too, she said, citing work the town did in attracting a sports and wellness center, now under development, to the west of town near I-69.

Smith has a passion, she said, for keeping Pendleton quaint and wants to see the council maintain the historic preservationist mindset.

“It’s a balancing act,” Smith said. “I do want to maintain our small-town charm, but I’m realistic to know the growth is going to happen and the only way we can control that is to have a plan in place that deals with prospective growth.”

Smith is also proud of her work on the waterworks board, through which she and others were able to construct a new drinking water plant under budget and within existing means.

“We’ve secured our water independence without raising taxes,” Smith said.

If re-elected, Smith also wants to continue the council’s goal of transparency with the community via social media.

Her opponent, Denny, who is running for office for the first time, has similar views on the town’s growth. He, too, said he wants to maintain the historic heritage but feels town officials could be more proactive in attracting growth.

Denny, an Anderson police officer, is a longtime Madison County resident. He and his wife, a teacher at South Madison Community School Corp., moved to downtown Pendleton a couple of years ago and opened The Stable, a bar/restaurant.

That’s when Denny decided he wanted to be more involved in the community and started attending town meetings, after which he soon realized he wanted to run for council.

“I just thought I could do good by the townspeople and be their town voice,” Denny said. “Through our business, I talk to a lot of residents, and I hear what they are saying and what they are feeling.”

Denny is invested in Pendleton, where his children went to or are attending school, and he said he and his wife truly love the town and would like to make a positive difference.

“I want people to feel they have somebody on the council that is going to listen and discuss issues,” Denny said.

He said he’s running because he feels the people of Pendleton are ready for some new ideas from someone who might bring a different perspective.

In the other council race, President Robert Jones (R) in district 3, is also up for re-election, however he is running unopposed.

In Ingalls, there are three people vying for only two at-large seats on the town council. Incumbents, Georgia Parker (D) and Tim Green (R) are both hoping to be re-elected, but newcomer Terry Moody (D) would like to be the new face on the board.

Moody, a quality engineer by trade, said he feels it’s time to get a different perspective on the board and feels he’s the best person for the job.

Moody has thought about serving the town and being part of local politics for some time, he said, and felt this was a good time to throw his hat into the ring.

Moody, who lived in Ingalls when he was a young child, moved back to the area three years ago, he said, with the thought he might some day be able to be a part of the council.

After attending several meetings, he said it became clear to him the council, while doing a good job, could use someone who really wants to be involved in town business.

“I want to get in there and help make decisions on what is best for the town and the community,” Moody said. “I think they could use an engineer on the council who can give them a different view on different things.”

Parker, who has several years of experience serving the town as a council member, is seeking her third term. She also has experience on various town boards, including the planning commission and the town’s BZA.

Parker is proud of the decisions she’s been a part of helping bring businesses, the senior living center as well as subdivisions to the area around State Road 13, she said.

“All of these have been in the making since I’ve been on the board,” Parker said.

Parker also has been a part of town annexation, helping it grow, and has pushed for clean-up and better organization around town.

As for Green, he’s served on the town council for the past 25 years and said he wants to continue to work to help the town because it is where lives and makes a living through businesses and rental properties.

“I care about the growth, the reputation of the town, and I care about the people of Ingalls and their wishes,” Green said in an email to The Times-Post.

Green said he’s proud of the work he’s done to improve the police and fire departments with new hires and equipment.

He also likes the direction the council has taken to rebuild town parks and create a new town hall.

He also noted an increase in the town’s water sales, where it has installed new wells, under his leadership, as well as making sure the street department is getting the equipment needed.

Green said he, too, is pleased with the town’s growth and how it is attracting commercial growth near I-67 and on SR 13.

The council has recently developed a tif corridor to bring additional revenue to Main Street Ingalls.

“We need to continue on the path we are on to make Ingalls a super town,” Green said.