Two announce plans to run for council in Noblesville caucus

Two residents have thrown their hats in the ring for an open seat on the Noblesville City Council.

Darren Peterson

Last month, former Noblesville mayor and longtime council member Mary Sue Rowland unexpectedly resigned from her at-large council seat. Rowland,  who was Noblesville's mayor from 1988 until 1996, was serving her third term on the council. Her first two terms ran from 2004 to 2012, and she was elected again in 2015.

Her current term expires at the end of 2019.

On Oct. 22, the Hamilton County Republican Party will hold a caucus to choose Rowland’s Republican replacement. Her successor would hold the position through 2019 and would have to win re-election that year to continue in the position.

Peterson Architecture founder Darren Peterson and Noblesville entrepreneur and real estate developer Rocky Shanehsaz announced they’ll run in the caucus.

Peterson, who founded his business in downtown Noblesville more than 20 years ago, is president of the Nickel Plate Arts organization, treasurer of Noblesville Main Street, and is involved in Hamilton County’s various chambers of commerce.

Rocky Shanehsaz

In written comments, Peterson said he would be an active and vocal advocate for “historically sensitive, intelligent and sustainable growth.”

Shanehsaz moved to the United States from Iran, becoming a citizen when he was a teenager. He’s lived in Noblesville since 1990.

He is best known for converting the historic Model Mill building into an event center called The Mill Top. He also relocated three historically significant homes to preserve them, paving the way for the construction of Noblesville City Hall in 2005 at Conner and 10th streets.

“My priorities will focus on economic development and government transparency,” he said in written comments. “Often, economic impacts are not quantitatively communicated with the public, and a lack of understanding leads to a lack of support. The result is a delay, or in some cases, abandonment of wonderful projects. Let’s work together to plant the seeds of growth.”