Even though more than two dozen candidates have filed for Greenwood City Council so far, most newcomers didn’t make it past Tuesday’s Republican primary.
In fact, only two did, and one seat was taken by just 12 votes.
The nine-member board sets annual spending for the city, makes policy changes, adopts new local rules and ordinances, approves new taxes and appoints members to various city boards. The candidates who won the Republican nomination this week now advance to the November general election.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
Long-time council member takes Old Town district
Incumbent Linda Gibson will now face off against Democratic candidate Matthew Smith in the fall general election.
Gibson has served on the council since 2008 when she took over for her husband, a former council member who died. Together, they have had a voice on the city council for nearly four decades.
Active incumbent retains hotbed seat, for now
District 2 envelopes two of the most talked-about areas in the city right now — the former middle school property, and the Interstate 65 and Worthsville Road interchange. In fact, District 2 includes everything southeast of Worthsville Road to the city line. It also includes Greenwood Park Mall to the north.
Its expansiveness put Republican incumbent Ezra Hill at the center of many important conversations and decisions, and he still has a chance to continue those conversations moving forward. Hill came out on top in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
He will face Democratic candidate Jason Boudi, who ran for county sheriff last year, as well as any independent candidates who may file in the fall general election.
Businessman beats long-time council member
An area businessman is one step closer to taking a seat on the city council next year, and he beat out long-time council member Bruce Armstrong.
Michael Williams will face Democratic candidate Terri Leonard and any independents who may file in the fall general election after he beat Armstrong by 12 votes.
“I want to thank the Greenwood voters for their vote of confidence,” Williams said during his victory speech Tuesday night. “I look forward to representing the district in the fall, a district that after 16 years of the same voted for some much-needed change.”
Williams is the operations director at Wooden Bear Brewing. As a businessman, he supports tax breaks for new businesses.
He and his family have lived in southeast Greenwood for about eight years. The focus of his candidacy — and his focus if he wins the seat — has been on improving the city’s quality of life, particularly in southeast Greenwood, with more options for families near their homes.
Educator keeps control of city’s most developed district
Council member Ron Bates will retain control of the District 4 seat after he beat a redevelopment commission member and school board member in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Bates will face any Independents who may file in the fall general election, or the Democratic party could slate a candidate to fill a vacancy on the ballot.
Hopper keeps hold of west side seat, moves ahead
J. David Hopper was renominated by the party after beating out a Republican opponent with opposite views.
Hopper will face Democratic candidate Hunter Haskell as well as any Independents who may file in the fall general election.
3 at-large candidates advance to fall general election
The following three Republican candidates will progress to the fall general election where they will face off against any Independent or Democrat candidates who may file or be slated by their party.
Seven Republicans ran for the three positions on the council that are tasked with representing the entire city of Greenwood.
Bob Dine walked away from Tuesday’s primary race with the most votes. He intends to make sure the city keeps its balance, he said.
“We can’t forget the city we had as we grow,” Dine said.
Current council president Mike Campbell wants to see more housing developments east of the city’s newest interchange, but the city can’t force home builders to move in there, he said.
Campbell is running again so he can continue to help develop the city, he said. He’s excited to see the former middle school property come to fruition, and wants to have a hand in that.
“While we’ve accomplished a lot, we can’t be stagnant,” Campbell said.
Newcomer Bradley Pendleton wants to have a hand in the big projects that are coming down the pipeline, he said.
Running for city council is something he and his dad had discussed since he graduated college six years ago. His dad died in 2016, but Pendleton and his wife decided to stay in Greenwood where he grew up.
He supports the mayor’s vision for downtown and appreciates the idea of attracting more young professionals. But one of his top priorities would be making sure Greenwood keeps its identity, he said.
Drew Foster, a deputy prosecutor who was just elected to the city council via a special caucus last fall, was not nominated.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Greenwood City Council” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
District 1
Linda Gibson;58%
Jay Hart;42%
District 2
Ron Deer;23%
Ezra Hill;46%
Tim McLaughlin;31%
District 3
Bruce Armstrong;49%
Michael Williams;51%
District 4
Ron Bates;51%
Steve Moan;49%
District 5
J. David Hopper;57%
Janet Whiteside;43%
District 6
David J. Lekse;100%
At-Large
John Asher;8%
Mike Campbell;19%
Bob Dine;20%
Drew Foster;12%
Randy Goodin;9%
Justin Kloer;11%
Bradley Pendleton;19%
[sc:pullout-text-end]
