The town of Edinburgh is on the right track.
Four candidates for the town council’s at-large seats want to be sure the community continues to make improvements.
Republican incumbents Jeff Simpson and Miriam Rooks, as well as Republican newcomer Sherri Sweet and independent Michael Bryant are all vying for the three open at-large seats on the council.
If elected during the Nov. 7 general election, they’ll represent the entire town, working on the council to adopt resolutions and ordinances for the town and set spending.
The Daily Journal asked the four candidates their top priorities for the town, what they think could be improved and their motivation for running.
Michael Bryant
Bryant was born and raised in Edinburgh, and after moving away, he came back and has lived in the town since 2007.
He loves the sense of community and the way the people work together to make Edinburgh successful, and he wanted to be a greater part of that.
Joining the town council was the best way he thought he could make a difference.
“I just want to better the community. I don’t have any agenda because I’ve never been in politics. What I’m doing is completely new to me,” he said. “There’s nothing really wrong with the community, I just want to be involved in it.”
Bryant has been a small business owner for 40 years, having founded MB Exports, a recycling company. His time running a business has taught him the intricacies of a budget and working with other people, which he could apply to local government if elected.
“I think I can solve most things that come at me — not all, but most,” he said.
Bryant did not have any concrete plans or goals if he was elected; rather, he pledged to better the community any way he could.
He believes in continuing support for the police and fire departments, and would like to find ways for the local business community
“I love Edinburgh, and I would love to try to help better it,” he said.
Miriam Rooks
Rooks has spent the past four years on the town council, and in that time, she has helped make decision to best lead Edinburgh in a better direction.
Accomplishments such as a new fire station, a robust police department, the nearly completed water treatment plant and updated roads have all helped move the town forward. Rooks wanted to run for a second term to continue that trajectory.
“And if in fact I’m elected, I will continue to work hard to make Edinburgh a place where anyone would like to come and call home, just as I do,” she said.
Rooks first got involved in town politics in 2019, pursuing an interest in the workings of government and how it can function to better the community.
She points to her experience on the council, her honesty and efficiency as the qualities that make her an ideal candidate.
“I try very hard to make decisions, whether it be policy, budgetary, etc., that I feel is in the best interest of the community,” she said. “My dedication to making sound decision makes me the best candidate, and I’m transparent with my decision making process.”
If elected for a second term, Rooks intends to continue addressing the town’s public safety needs and work to attract more housing development to Edinburgh. Housing growth would mean a boost to the tax base, as well as helping bring new residents to the town.
“That’s going to be beneficial for the town and the school corporation as well. Hopefully, we’ll have some housing coming down the pike soon,” she said. “We have to have that to have the town move forward.”
Jeff Simpson
When Simpson was first elected to the town council in 2019, his goal was to help to make Edinburgh a better place to live.
He is proud of what the town council has done so far and wants to keep working.
“I like serving my community, and being a part of the decision-making process,” he said. “We want to keep providing services, even if that’s hard to do these days with the crunch of money.”
During his time on the town council, Simpson points to efforts to keep taxes low while maintaining and updating services to residents. The town has been able to pave and care for its roads, and built a new water plant with the potential for expansion if needed, he said.
One point of pride is the construction of the Edinburgh Fire Department’s new station, which opened earlier this year.
Edinburgh faces challenges that other communities in Johnson County don’t have; there is little opportunity to physically expand, which makes building the tax base more difficult.
“We’re land-locked pretty much, with Bartholomew County to the south and Shelby County to the east,” Simpson said. “But we’ve been fortunate that we’ve survived.”
If re-elected, Simpson would focus on expanding the tax base by encouraging new businesses and new home construction in the town. With a larger tax base, Edinburgh can maintain staffing in town government positions, including the police and fire departments.
“It goes back to not having as much revenue from taxes as other places. We have to be able to afford to pay the salaries the other places are paying,” he said. “Staffing is one of the biggest things we face.”
Sherri Sweet
Sweet has seen first-hand how unique the Edinburgh community is.
Her husband, Dr. Greg Sweet, had been a chiropractor in the town for more than 30 years. When he died, the people of Edinburgh stepped forward to give her the support and love she needed.
Now, she wants to return the favor.
“I want to give back, honestly. I want to do service for the Edinburgh community in whatever way possible,” she said.
Sweet works for Edinburgh Community School Corporation as an administrative secretary to the superintendent. Although she has no previous political experience, she believes she has the right mindset and the experience in the community to serve.
If elected, she would want to see the town and the school district work together to make Edinburgh as successful as it can be, particularly with a 287-acre housing development potentially coming to the town.
“We’re going to get all those houses, so I’d like for us to reach out and be sure those people who move into all those houses feel comfortable that our school is the best for us to go to,” she said.
Sweet’s other priorities include ensuring Edinburgh residents are helped with the services they need.
“Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could say, hey, if you need something, here is a website or somebody to go to that can help provide that,” she said. “I feel strongly that our community is amazing. They all pull together in time of need and all help each other out.”
ABOUT THE JOB
Edinburgh Town Council
Term: Four years
Pay: $8,250 per year
Duties: Adopt resolutions and ordinances for the town and set spending.
Boundaries: All of Edinburgh
The Bryant File
Michael Bryant
Age: 60
Family: Wife Sharron; two adult children
Occupation: Owner MB Exports
Education: Edinburgh High School
Memberships: None
The Rooks File
Miriam Rooks
Age: 64
Family: Husband, Curtis; one adult child
Occupation: Johnson County Health Department office clerk
Education: Edinburgh Community High School
Memberships: Jollity United Methodist Church, Beta Sigma Phi Theta Chi chapter
The Simpson File
Jeff Simpson
Age: 66
Family: Wife, Rhonda, two adult children
Occupation: Sunoco Flexible Packaging operator
Education: Adair County High School Columbia, Kentucky.
Memberships: Edinburgh Masonic Lodge No. 100; Edinburgh Local 1490
The Sweet File
Sherri Sweet
Age: 63
Family: Husband, Dr. Greg Sweet (deceased); five adult children
Occupation: Administrative secretary for superintendent, Edinburgh Community Schools
Education: National Trail High School, New Paris, Ohio; Wright State University
Memberships: Tri Kappa sorority secretary; Edinburgh Wright-Hageman Public Library board treasurer; Edinburgh Methodist Church
