The three Republican candidates for Whiteland’s District 3 seat in this year’s primary election have never held political office, but each want to represent the party this fall during the general election.
Andy Brock, the incumbent, will not run again, and barring a challenge from an independent candidate in November’s election, the race will determine who gets the seat, which is one of five on the town council.
For Sean Middleton, Laura Fleury and Russell Crague, the experience of running for office for the first time involves shaping their ideas with feedback from the community.
Crague, for example, doesn’t have any particular goals in mind and plans to continue the status quo of the town until he learns more about the issues it’s facing. He wants to continue Whiteland’s growth, all while staying within budget, he said.
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He will further develop his plans once he learns more about the inner-workings of the council, he said.
Town council members can vote on legislation that relates specifically to Whiteland. They also have the authority to appoint the town manager, said Norm Gabehart, who holds that position.
Middleton’s goals for council revolve around health and safety, fiscal responsibility and growing local business, he said.
He wants to work with the council to bring a community center to the town in order to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. With expected population growth will come an increase in the number of local businesses, and the town should act in the interest of those businesses, rather than larger chains that are looking to expand, he said.
If elected, he would like to ensure that the town installs a stop arm at the railroad crossing on Main Street, he said. In March, a Greenwood woman died after a train hit her vehicle as she was crossing the tracks in New Whiteland, a different crossing which also did not have a stop arm.
Along with safety, Middleton is focused on consolidating resources, such as the police department for Whiteland and New Whiteland. Consolidating departments would save both towns money and help them avoid unnecessarily paying for duplicate items.
“Consolidating resources rather than applying for two police department light bills, two of everything, (is important),” Middleton said. “Being in such a small area, I don’t see a reason why you should duplicate resources.”
While he plans on proposing the idea, he is open to feedback from other council members and Whiteland residents, he said.
If Whiteland passed a merger proposal, New Whiteland town council would also have to pass it, after which it would go to a vote. Earlier this year, New Whiteland rejected a resolution passed by Whiteland for a possible merger. A new council and public support, however, could yield a different result, Gabehart said.
With his run for office, Middleton hopes to get more involved in the community and wants to get input from people around Whiteland during his campaign, he said. Like Crague, once he gets more familiar with the town council and how it works, he can better develop a plan on how to achieve his goals, he said.
Fleury is also running on a platform of improving public safety and attracting small businesses to Whiteland, she said.
The town is doing a good job in terms of supporting its police department, but she wants to ensure they have the resources and funding needed to continue that work, she said.
While running for office will increase her involvement in the local community, Fleury hopes that by being aware of the goals of Whiteland residents, she can better represent them, she said.
“I love this town and I want to have a say in what goes on and be a part of that change,” Fleury said. “I want community members to feel that their voice is heard and respected.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the job” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Whiteland Town Council District Three
Term: Four years
Pay: $5,000 per year
Duties: Voting on issues that affect the town specifically, appointing the town manager
Boundaries: From Whiteland Road and U.S. 31 south and east to town boundaries
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Russell Crague” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Russell Crague
Age: 68
Family: Wife, Deborah; three adult children
Occupation: Retired from Greenwood Police Department, currently a reserve officer with New Whiteland Police Department
Education: Wisconsin State University
Political experience: None
Memberships: Member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 154, secretary and master trainer of International Police Work Dog Association
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Laura Fleury” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Laura Fleury
Age: 31
Family: Husband, Jake; two children
Occupation: Contract specialist with Franciscan Health
Education: IUPUI
Political experience: None
Memberships: None
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Sean Middleton” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Sean Middleton
Age: 36
Family: Wife, Kimberly; one child
Occupation: AF Process Engineer of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana
Education: Motorcycle Mechanic Institute
Political experience: None
Memberships: None
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