One council seat, clerk-treasurer spot contested

PENDLETON — In South Madison County, there are four seats on the ballot in the Nov. 7 General Election, all in Pendleton: three town council spots and the clerk-treasurer position.
Only two of those races are contested, however: one council spot and clerk-treasurer.
In the council race, Republican incumbent Shane Davis faces Democratic challenger Jerry Burmeister.
Davis holds one of two at-large seats on the council. Burmeister is currently the District 1 council member, a position he’s been in since June, following the death of councilman Chet Babb.
Davis, 43, a married father of two children ages 15 and 16, said voters should re-elect him because he has served through “ups and downs” in town since he was first appointed and then elected to a full term.

Shane Davis

He said he has, and always will, act to benefit the town.
“I’ve been through everything the town has been through the past six years, it’s been some ups and downs. The tornado was a big deal for the town. I was on the council through that.
“Looking for the future, really, it’s just trying to put the good word out for the town of Pendleton. Pendleton comes first in my book.
“It’s nothing personal with me, it’s what I can do for the community and for the younger generation, and hopefully get some younger kids, high school age, to start getting a little interest in our town. You know, without them — we gotta have the future. We have to learn from the past and look to the future. We have to learn from the past and look to the future.”
One specific goal for the future, he said, is to attract more business.
“Business is going to help alleviate some of the tax burdens that are on our citizens, our townspeople,” he said. “I’d love to see that (Interstate) 69 corridor really boom with many different forms of business to help draw people here to the town. It’s nice to have nice homes, but we need people to be able to work and live here.”
“Everything’s coming up from Indianapolis, and from a person that drives a ton of miles every day to and from work, I’d love to see good-paying jobs so people can afford to live here and work here.”
Challenger Burmeister, 69, who has two grown daughters, said he chose to run for an at-large seat because he wanted to serve the whole town.
And service, he said, is something that comes naturally to him.

Vice President Cathy Pasko and President Jerry Burmeister.

“Well, I’ve been a public servant my whole life, I feel like, having spent 35 years in fire service. I like helping people, honestly. I enjoy helping others.”
During his career at Anderson Fire Department, he was deputy chief for four years, he said, “responsible for the budget and development and oversight.”
He’s also on the Pendleton Waterworks Board and has owned Burmeister Antiques on State Street for more than 22 years. He also works at his church’s food bank every Thursday night and belongs to a local history group.
“I enjoy working with the public,” he said.
He said his priorities are public safety, managing growth and helping solve problems as they come up.
“Growth is coming right down that interstate, and it’s going to be up to us to pick and choose what we let in and don’t let in,” he said.
“And there are some things I want to see get done. We don’t have tornado sirens in this town and we need tornado sirens, and that’s something I’m looking into already. A mini-amphitheater in the park, I mean, I think Pendleton people would really enjoy that. A splash pad for the kids. So there are things like that that I’d like to get done.”
Republican Cory Hall is running unopposed for Pendleton District 1 seat.
In District 2, Democratic incumbent councilman Steve Denny is running unopposed.
The two council seats not on the ballot this election are the second at-large council seat and District 3. Council President Marissa Skaggs and Jen Roberts, both Republicans, are in those positions, respectively. Their terms run until Dec. 31, 2026.
Running in the clerk-treasurer race are Republican incumbent Willie Boles and Democratic challenger Joe Noel.
Boles, 74, was a local auto dealer for 30 years before retiring. He has served as clerk-treasurer for four years.

Willie Boles

He said he’s running again “just mainly to protect the people and the values of Pendleton, and try to help with the growth, make sure we grow right.
As clerk-treasurer, “A lot of it is just guidance, a lot of it is the questions people ask me, a lot of it is controlling the spending so that we don’t waste money, you know, we shop and get the best buy for items, and we don’t go out and waste a lot of money.
“A lot of people don’t realize, you know, I’ve lived here all my life and this is my town, and I don’t want it to get bad, or whatever, but also if there is a tie on the town board, then it’s my job to break that tie. If somebody were to abstain from voting and it was 2-2, then it would be up to me to vote and determine what that should be. And based on that, that’s why I like to be included in all the meetings and keep up to date on what’s going on and how it affects the town.”
What makes him the best person for the job, he said, is “my experience in business and also being clerk-treasurer for four years and dealing with the people, and living here and growing up here and doing business here.”
Challenger Noel, 67, said he’s running “because I want to give back a little bit to the community that’s given so much to me.

Joe Noel

“I’m retiring from (Harrah’s) Hoosier Park and I’d like to be able to spend some time serving the people of Pendleton.”
He said he was born and raised in Pendleton, and has been living in town the past six years.
“My daughter, my grandchildren live here, love the community, and I wanted to make Pendleton a good place for them. My grandchildren are the fifth generation of Noels to live in Pendleton, so I want to see Pendleton continue to thrive.”
He said his 15-plus years at the racetrack and casino, where he is now facilities manager, have given him the skills necessary to be clerk-treasurer.
“I’m a strong manager of people, I have a strong knowledge of budgets, of budgeting. I’m overseeing right now a $43 million project at Hoosier Park — so I have a strong financial background and a strong management background.”
He’s the best candidate for the job because “I value transparency in all things and accessibility. So I can be accountable and transparent and accessible to the residents of Pendleton.”
As for improvements that can be made, he said, “I would like to see better notification of public meetings, a more timely notification of public meetings.”
Early voting
In-person early voting began more than two weeks ago in Madison County. Voters can cast their ballot at any voting location listed below.
Voting hours at the Madison County Courthouse are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Nov. 3; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4; and 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 6. Voting is also set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, at Cross Roads United Methodist Church in Anderson.
Early voting opportunities are set to expand starting early next week, with the opening of seven satellite locations throughout the county. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, through Friday, Nov. 3, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4.
The satellite locations are:
Aletheia Fellowship Church, 2505 Faith Drive, Anderson;
Cross Roads UMC, 2000 N. Scatterfield Road, Anderson;
Anderson Zion Baptist Church, 2008 Rev. J.T. Menifee St., Anderson;
UAW Local 1963, 2840 S. Madison Ave., Anderson;
Alexandria 4-H Building, 512 E. Fourth St., Alexandria;
Elwood City Hall, 1505 S. B St., Elwood; and
Pendleton Community Public Library, 595 E. Water St., Pendleton.
On Election Day, an additional 10 vote centers will join the seven satellite sites to offer voting hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Those 10 added vote centers are:
ACS Administration Building, 1600 Hillcrest Avenue, Anderson
Anderson Fire Department – Station 3, 2103 Columbus Ave., Anderson
East Main Street Christian Church, 1801 Main St., Elwood
Main Street Church of God, 4211 Main St., Anderson
National Guard Armory, 125 S. Scatterfield Road, Anderson
Orestes Town Hall, 14 E. Oak St., Orestes
Parkview Nazarene Church, 911 S. Rangeline Road, Anderson
Pendleton Christian Church, 1170 S. Pendleton Ave., Pendleton
Wesley Free Methodist Church, 3017 W. Eighth St., Anderson
Whetstone Christian Church, 5940 S. Madison Ave., Anderson
The courthouse is not open on Election Day.
For details on voting, visit www.madisoncounty.in.gov/departments/election-office.