ReCenter Indiana backs mayor candidates in Indianapolis, Evansville, Carmel

The political action committee of ReCenter Indiana, a pro-democracy citizens’ group, today is endorsing candidates for mayor in three of the state’s six largest cities.

They are Republican Jefferson Shreve in Indianapolis, Democrat Stephanie Terry in Evansville and Republican Sue Finkam in Carmel.

A bipartisan, nonprofit organization, ReCenter Indiana was established a year ago to shift Indiana politics away from the extremes and to motivate more Hoosiers to vote. The group hailed the experience of all three candidates in working across the aisle to affect positive change.

Shreve is a former member of the Indianapolis City-County Council and the founder and former owner of a large self-storage business.

Terry is a member of the Vanderburgh County Council and executive director of the Children’s Museum of Evansville.

Finkam is a member of the Carmel City Council and founder and CEO of a marketing agency.

ReCenter Indiana’s political action committee selected the endorsements after researching and interviewing these candidates this summer. Committee members also interviewed the Republican candidate in Evansville, Natalie Rascher, and the Democratic candidate in Carmel, Miles Nelson.

Also on the November ballot are incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett in Indianapolis and a Libertarian candidate in Evansville, Michael Daugherty. Neither made themselves available to be interviewed.

“It’s challenging for voters to find the time to see and hear candidates in an unscripted setting,” said Linda Heitzman, the Democratic co-chair of the ReCenter Indiana PAC. “I encourage voters to check out our interviews online, to see for themselves how closely any candidate aligns with their interests.”

Those interviews, showing the participating candidates’ responses to parallel questions, can be seen side by side at https://www.recenterindiana.org/ .

Adrianne Slash, a Republican and co-chair of the ReCenter Indiana PAC, commended the extensive governing credentials of Terry and Finkam.

About Shreve, Slash said, “He acknowledges the need to lean on his relationships at the Statehouse and work with both sides of the aisle here in Indianapolis to successfully lead this growing and diverse community.”

“On issues ranging from localized gun restrictions to downtown pedestrian safety, the Indiana General Assembly has been bent on obstructing rather than assisting Indianapolis,” the endorsement statement from the ReCenter Indiana PAC declares. “Our capital city deserves better; its economic and cultural energy are vital to the entire state.”

In-person absentee voting for municipal elections throughout Indiana begins Wednesday, Oct. 11. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Hoosiers may register through Monday, Oct. 9, either online or in person. Voters may check their registration status at https://indianavoters.in.gov/?ref=voteusa_en .