Vice President Cathy Pasko and President Jerry Burmeister.

By Brady Extin | For The Times-Post

PENDLETON — The town of Pendleton has a new town council member.
Jerry Burmeister was chosen on Tuesday, June 13, during a caucus called by Madison County Democratic Party to replace longtime Councilman Chet Babb, who died unexpectedly last month.
“I’m very sorry that things happened the way they did. Chet can never be replaced. He was such a great guy and cared so much about our community,” Burmesister said. “But I’m excited, and I think Chet would be smiling down on me.”
Burmeister will serve the remainder of Babb’s District 1 council term, which ends Dec. 31.
“He’ll do a very good job,” Madison County Democratic Chair Tim Funk said at the caucus. “He’s a very energetic person.”
Burmeister, who has owned Burmeister’s Old Towne Antiques in downtown Pendleton for 22 years, has already been very involved in the town and community in the past by serving on boards and committees, such as the Waterworks Board and the Board of Zoning Appeals. He currently serves as secretary of the Board of Zoning Appeals and vice president of the Waterworks Board.
For him, serving in an elected office was the next progression in being able to serve the town of Pendleton.
“Honestly, I feel that way. I feel like I’m available for people from the community to come in and talk to me freely and openly, and discuss different things going on in our town,” Burmeister said.
“Growth is huge. We know it’s coming our way, and I think it’s up to the town council to control that as much as possible.”
Burmeister also serves as the president of Historic Fall Creek, Pendleton Settlement, and preserving the historic small-town feel of Pendleton is at the forefront of his town council goals.
“It’s up to us to protect our historic district. I care very much about the historic flavor of our town and want to keep that,” Burmeister said. “I love our little town, and I want to make it the best that it can be for everyone.”
A former Anderson firefighter for 35 years, this term will be Burmeister’s first in an elected office, but he believes his past experiences at the fire department, where he served in various capacities, will help him in his new role on the town council.
“Four of those years I was in the front office, and I was balancing the budget. I’ve negotiated a couple city contracts, and even before that, I was vice president of our union, so I’ve negotiated contracts from both sides,” Burmeister said. “I know there has to be a happy medium in those things, and I feel like I’m a very fair person and I listen, so I’m looking forward to this new challenge.”
He ran for elective office for the first time last year, losing in the general election for Madison County Council to Republican incumbent Rob Steele.
Burmeister said he hopes to be on the ballot for the seat in November’s general election and to be elected to a four-year term beginning in January.
Another Democratic caucus, open to the public, is set for 6 p.m. today, Thursday, June 22, at Pendleton Fire Department, to choose the party’s District 1 candidate for the general election.