Unofficially, West Lafayette's new mayor will be Erin Easter
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Unofficially, the West Lafayette mayoral torch has passed to Erin Easter.
The end of June was the last opportunity for political parties to slate candidates for the fall election and for independent candidates to file signatures to be on the ballot. No one was slated, and no one filed signatures to opposed Easter as an independent.
“I am honored to have the support of so many people,” Easter said. “I hope it’s a reflection of the work I already do at city hall.”
Easter, a Democrat, still needs one vote in November's General Election to make it official, and if she garners that one vote, she'll take office in January, replacing Republican John Dennis, who's been mayor since 2008.
Dennis hired Easter in 2018 to be the city's deputy director of development, then promoted her in 2020 to director of development.
In December, Dennis endorsed her to be the next mayor.
Easter said she wants to continue making West Lafayette a better place to live, a city that's friendly and inviting to all.
Once she takes office in January, she plans to set her eyes on updating the city's strategic plan, which is a dozen years old. Most of the goals on the plan have been accomplished during Dennis' tenure, she said.
More: John Dennis endorses Erin Easter to succeed him as West Lafayette mayor
“I think this is a great opportunity to review what we want for our community,” she said.
The strategic plan will be to codify the goals of the community and become a road map for future projects.
While Easter might have unofficially won the election, she isn't shying away from voters, who can expect to see her in the fall election push that kicks off after Labor Day.
Unopposed races
Easter isn't the only candidate without a challenge in the fall elections.
Lafayette City Council at-large candidates Kevin Klinker, Nancy Nargi and Steve Synder are unopposed.
Other Lafayette City Council candidates also have an unobstructed walk to re-election. They are Jerry Reynolds, a Republican in the 1st District; Perry Brown, a Democrat in the 3rd District; Melissa Weast-Williams, a Democrat in the 5th District.
Lafayette City Clerk Cindy Murray and West Lafayette City Clerk Sana Booker, both Democrats, are unopposed.
West Lafayette City Council newcomer candidates Michelle Dennis, a Democrat in the 2nd District, Colin Lee, in the 3rd District join incumbent Democrat Larry Leverenz, 4th District, to be the group of unopposed who are assured seats in the next council. Dennis is the daughter of Mayor John Dennis.
Contested races
Libertarian candidate Benjamin Milanowski stands in the way of Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski's sixth term.
In the Lafayette City Council races, Eillen Hession Weiss, a Democrat, and Mary Fisher, a Republican, are vying for the 2nd District seat.
In the 4th District, Democratic incumbent Lauren Ahlersmeyer faces a challenge from Libertarian candidate Josia Eller.
Democratic incumbent Bob Downing, 6th District, faces a challenge from Perry Barbee, a Republican.
On the West Side, the 1st District race will be between Democrat Laila Veidemanis and Republican Aaron Abell.
Incumbent Democrat Kathy Parker, 5th District, faces a challenge from Republican James Waters, and 6th District candidates are Democrat Stacey Baitinger Burr and Republican Jeff Brown.
Three at-large seats will be filled on the council in November.
The Republicans recently picked Patrick Flannelly and Brian Russell to face Democrat candidates James Blanco, Iris O'Donnell Bellisario and David Sanders.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Only name on West Lafayette's mayoral ballot will be Erin Easter
