Two Trafalgar Town Council members who were involved in a fight in January following a meeting at the town hall are running for office again.
David Moore and Jeff Eisenmenger are running for re-election this year along with 10 other candidates who filed for office, which is rare for Trafalgar.
Moore was arrested on Jan. 16 on charges of battery and disorderly conduct after he grabbed Eisenmenger with both hands and slammed him against a wall at the town hall, according to a Trafalgar police report.
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A Trafalgar police officer attending the special council meeting to discuss the town’s budget said he and Eisenmenger were talking in the hallway after the meeting when Moore approached the two and assaulted and cursed at Eisenmenger, the police report said.
Moore left after the incident. Police arrested him later that evening at his home, 104 N. Red Gold Drive. He posted bond and was released from the Johnson County jail.
Charges have not been filed, according to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors received a packet of materials from Trafalgar Police Chief Charles Roberts who investigated the incident, chief deputy prosecutor Joe Villanueva said.
Because Roberts is Trafalgar’s police chief, and both council members are direct supervisors of Roberts and his department’s budget, prosecutors said a conflict of interest existed for Trafalgar police to be involved and told Roberts an outside agency, such as the sheriff’s office, should investigate the incident further, Villanueva said.
Prosecutors have not received any additional information from Roberts or any other agency, Villanueva said, and Johnson County Prosecutor Brad Cooper said last week charges were declined at this time.
Sheriff Duane Burgess said Monday the sheriff’s office has not been asked to investigate the incident. Roberts has forwarded information about the case to Indiana State Police, and they are investigating.
Moore can be re-elected to the town council. The Johnson County Republican Party has not asked him to resign from his post, and they did not challenge his candidacy. If both he and Eisenmenger are re-elected, they will have to interact at meetings and continue to make decisions that impact about 1,200 Trafalgar residents.
“There isn’t a doubt in my mind we can both still work together,” Moore said during a recent interview.
Eisenmenger hopes to see fresh faces on the town council come next year, but said he would continue to work with Moore if both men are re-elected.
“I’m a bigger person. I would still work with him, of course,” Eisenmenger said. “I’ll take the higher ground. Life goes on.”
Both are still members of the town council, but council president Jason Ramey, who is also seeking re-election, is rallying for change. Twelve candidates filed for town council, and 11 are actively seeking one of five seats. Stephen Johnson tried to withdraw, but missed the deadline, so his name will still appear on the ballot.
During the last municipal election in 2015, Trafalgar did not have an election because five candidates applied for five seats, so residents did not have a choice, Ramey said. Until now, that has been the trend, he said.
“I am supporting a certain group of people who I’ve taken the time to speak with — a couple people who are really going to be good for the council if they’re elected. I want to be professional about this, but there are a couple of changes I think would really benefit the community,” Ramey said.
“At risk of my own self, people need to not just vote on the fact that somebody’s been doing the job. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing what you’re supposed to or what you can do for the community.”
Ramey asked the two men to tone down their comments during the public meeting on Jan. 16, before the fight, which took place after the meeting was adjourned. It was not the first time he’s had to do that, Ramey said.
“That’s one of the things I hope to get rid of. Everyone has the right to say what they want, but I think they were both in the wrong. That is not the time to do that. They took advantage of the platform they have to make personal negative comments,” Ramey said.
“It’s happened more than once unfortunately, and it’s not what the people deserve and it’s not what we’re there to do.”
Moore characterized the incident as an “old schoolboy incident.”
“It wasn’t no more than a playground fight. That’s all I can say. It’s done. It’s over. I told the officers that night that it’s done, it’s over. It happened after the meeting, and was between Jeff and I.”
Eisenmenger said recently he was attacked at a town meeting in front of police and other people.
“I just think that’s uncalled for in anybody’s imagination. You don’t do that in public, let alone at a town meeting,” Eisenmenger said.
The two started arguing during the public meeting about matters concerning the town’s budget, such as over-spending and employee benefits. Moore suggested Eisenmenger should not have voted on a matter due to a conflict of interest.
Eisenmenger responded with a personal comment about Moore’s recent hospitalization.
Trafalgar Clerk-Treasurer Donna Moore spoke up.
“That’s very unprofessional,” she can be heard saying to Eisenmenger multiple times in an audio recording of the meeting.
Earlier, during the same meeting, Ramey asked the two council members to tone down their comments after Moore shouted and cursed at Eisenmenger during a discussion about the costs associated with outsourcing work.
The meeting ended cordially, according to the audio recording. The physical altercation took place after, while some members of the council and police officers were still inside the town hall.
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Here is a look at the candidates who will appear on the Republican primary ballot in Trafalgar. There are five seats.
David Moore
James Armstrong
Charles Rairdon
Stephen Johnson
Jason Ramey
Jessica Jones
Steve Scott
Pamela Palmer
Rebecca Moore
Jeff Eisenmenger
Kyle Siegfried
Jerry Rafferty
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Before you head to the polls, look for stories in upcoming Daily Journal’s about where each candidate stands on the issues, and why they’re running for office.
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