MADISON COUNTY — Republican primary candidates for Madison County coroner have similar messages in their contest to be the party nominee for the November election.

They believe their respective occupations make them the best fit to run the office.

Tom Abbott, a longtime Madison County medical doctor, and Noah Bozell, who co-owns Hersberger-Bozell Funeral Home, will be on the ballot for the June 2 primary election.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Abbott, 54, said he wants to bring medical experience back to the office. He has 25 years of experience in medicine, including a practice in Lapel.

A lifelong resident of Madison County, he was born in Elwood and graduated from Anderson Highland High School. He earned bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology from Anderson Uni- versity and is a graduate of India-na University School of Medicine.

Along with his 25 years as a physician, Abbott has been on the Madison County Board of Health since 2010 and is a member of the Community Hospital Anderson Board of Trustees.

“I think the Madison County Health Department and the coroner’s office can work hand-in-hand to improve the health in Madison County, which has been ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the state for worst health among Indiana counties,” Abbott said.

“I want to work with public officials to improve that. If we improve the health of the county, the county will be more attractive for businesses to come to.”

He also said autopsies should remain in-county and that doing so will save money.

“We need to keep autopsies at home. The coroner asked for $50,000 for autopsies,” Abbott said. “I hope to decrease that and think that keeping them in-county will be a significant cost savings.”

Bozell, 20, has been involved in the family business since he was 13. He co-owns the funeral home, located in Lapel, with his father.

He said he would also like to establish professional standards and expand information technology within the coroner’s office, as well as grow community awareness of office’s functions.

“I have a few goals I want to accomplish, and the main goal is keeping autopsies in Madison County,” Bozell said. “Loved ones do not need to be taken out of the county.

Bozell is a graduate of Anderson High School and is scheduled to graduate from the Ivy Tech Community College Mortuary Science program in January.

“I think it’s very important who holds the coroner’s office that they work in the funeral home industry,” Bozell said. “We know what families go through each and every day and know the compassion needed for those families, and that is huge.”

The Republican nominee will face Democratic incumbent Danielle Dunnichay-Noone in November.

Dunnichay-Noone is unopposed in the primary. She has been county coroner since 2018, when she replaced her mother, Marian Dunnichay, who left the position after being elected Pipe Creek Township trustee.

Dunnichay served as coroner for 14 years; her husband, Ned, was coroner for eight years.