Finkam wins Carmel's Republican mayoral primary

Voters chose mayoral candidates across Central Indiana during Tuesday’s primary election.

In Carmel, the city’s next leader will follow outgoing seven-term mayor Republican Jim Brainard. Sue Finkam won the Republican primary with just over 36 percent of the vote. She defeated candidates Fred Glynn and Kevin “Woody” Rider, who was endorsed by Brainard. 

“Jim Brainard had an amazing vision for the last 28 years, and he's built an incredible community, and had an incredible spirit and will to get done tough projects,” Finkam said Tuesday. “Sometimes in the process of doing that, he's left some people on the sidelines who wanted to be engaged or wanted to be heard.”

Finkam said she will continue to campaign with the same priorities, aimed at “smart development and a safe community.” This November, Finkam will face Democrat Miles Nelson, who ran unopposed.

In Greenwood’s mayoral race, Republican incumbent Mark Myers defeated challenger Joe Hubbard, capturing 55 percent of the vote.

In Boone County, John Stehr won Zionsville’s Republican mayoral primary, defeating challenger Jane Burgess with almost 55 percent of the vote. Incumbent Republican Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry bested opponent Kevin Van Horn with about 59 percent of the vote.

Contact WFYI economic equity reporter Sydney Dauphinais at sdauphinais@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @syddauphinais.