Carmel's only Democrat on the city council is running for mayor

Brittany Carloni, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read

Carmel’s first and only Democrat elected to the city council is now running for mayor.

Councilman Miles Nelson announced over the weekend on his Facebook page "Miles for Mayor" a mayoral campaign kick-off event planned for Thursday in Carmel.

"I love this city. I'm extraordinarily passionate about the people who live here and the city as a whole," Nelson told IndyStar on Monday morning.

"I've always said Carmel is a phenomenal city to raise a family. We've got amazing schools that rank in the top 1% of the state and the country," Nelson said. "We've got parks that are are some of the best in the state, in the country, certainly in the region. I also think it's a great city to build a career."

Nelson joins fellow Carmel councilors Kevin Rider and Sue Finkam who announced candidacies for mayor in the last three months after Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard said he would not seek another term.

Democrat Miles Nelson arrives to a gathering of Hamilton County Democrats after the final results of his victory in the newly created Carmel City Common Council, West District race were confirmed. Candidates and supporters gathered at Muldoon’s in Carmel to watch as election results are posted, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.
Democrat Miles Nelson arrives to a gathering of Hamilton County Democrats after the final results of his victory in the newly created Carmel City Common Council, West District race were confirmed. Candidates and supporters gathered at Muldoon’s in Carmel to watch as election results are posted, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.

More:Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard will not seek reelection, ending seven terms as mayor in 2023

Rider and Finkam, however, are Republicans and set to face each other in the municipal primaries in May.

Nelson was elected in 2019 and is in his first term on the Carmel City Council. He represents the city’s west district.

More:Could a Democrat win a Carmel City Council seat? Perhaps in the West district

Nelson’s victory in 2019 was the start of recent Democratic candidate successes in Carmel. President Joe Biden won in the city in 2020 and Democratic Secretary of State Candidate Destiny Wells won in Carmel during the 2022 midterm elections last month.

Those victories in a growing city, with a population of around 100,000, points to Carmel’s support for moderate candidates, despite its position in a historically Republican county.

"I don't think at any other time has there been such an opportunity for a Democrat to win," Nelson said.

Outside of the city council, Nelson is president of AOI, an executive search firm.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel mayor's race: Democrat Miles Nelson running for city's top job