2023 Newsmaker: Finkam wins Carmel mayoral election to succeed Brainard
Sue Finkam, a three-term member of the Carmel City Council, will succeed Republican Mayor Jim Brainard, who reshaped the Hamilton County city over his seven terms in office.
Jim Brainard
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Banks calls on Carmel to withdraw from Chinese sister-city agreement
The rebuke from U.S. Rep. Jim Banks came after a Washington Post report that former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard had traveled to China before he left office last year. Banks warned that sister-city agreements can unduly influence U.S. cities to support problematic Chinese policies.
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Is Carmel’s city council less aligned with the mayor?
Recent council actions are raising questions about whether members are becoming more skeptical of Mayor Jim Brainard’s vision for the city and subsequent spending.
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Articles
Jim Brainard looks back on 28 years as Carmel mayor
Brainard, 69, announced in September 2022 that he would not seek an eighth term. Sue Finkam, a Republican member of the Carmel City Council, will succeed him on Jan. 1.
Nate Feltman: Jim Brainard’s vision is crucial to Carmel’s success
Brainard believed that making investments in public infrastructure and livable neighborhoods would attract businesses and residents alike, as businesses would want to locate near their workforce or potential workforce.
Carmel council to weigh issuing $125 million in bonds for city projects
Council members Bruce Kimball, Kevin Rider and Jeff Worrell have co-sponsored Mayor Jim Brainard’s requests to finance a potential $40 million Carmel Police Department headquarters expansion, a $60 million series of road projects and $25 million for undefined redevelopment projects throughout the city.
Carmel announces temporary agreement allowing The GOAT to resume evening hours
The agreement sets restrictions on noise and capacity, based in part on the number of toilets that are available at the tavern.
Carmel mayor reveals he caught virus weeks ago, recovered at home
Republican Jim Brainard said he had a COVID-19 test on Nov. 6, a couple of days after he started having symptoms.
Nursing home residents account for 15% of Indiana’s COVID-19 deaths
The state health department laid out new orders Wednesday in an effort to protect elderly and confined Hoosiers from contracting the disease, Meanwhile, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard is coordinating testing for nursing home residents in his city.
Area leaders balk at Indy Mayor Joe Hogsett’s regional infrastructure plan
Several area mayors say they’ve been meeting to discuss regional cooperation—talks that Hogsett has been a part of—but had not signed off on any plan like the one the Indianapolis Democrat proposed. The Hogsett plan would create winners and losers among counties.
Carmel Mayor Brainard fends off challenge while a longtime Carmel councilor loses
Mayor Jim Brainard received 56% of the GOP primary vote, while his challenger Fred Glynn garnered 44%. The race had turned ugly in recent weeks.
UPDATES: Brainard, Fadness, Jensen win in Hamilton County; Hogsett, Merritt win in Indy
Incumbent Joe Hogsett and Republican Jim Merritt are expected to easily win their primaries in the Indianapolis mayor’s race. In Hamilton County, the races could be more interesting.
Early voting up in Marion County, but even more so in Hamilton County
In Hamilton County, the increase is likely tied in part to some interesting GOP primary battles. In Marion County, voters could choose to vote early at any of three different polling sites for the first time in a decade. Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Area mayoral races top ballots in Tuesday’s primary election
Incumbent Indy Mayor Joe Hogsett and GOP challenger Jim Merritt are expected to win their parties’ nominations easily. Meanwhile in Fishers and Carmel, incumbents are fending off primary challenges.
Carmel official says Brainard created ‘toxic environment’; mayor calls relationship consensual
Clerk-Treasurer Christine Pauley said Mayor Jim Brainard created a difficult work environment by pushing her to go on trips with him. But the mayor said in a statement that the two briefly dated and the timing of the accusations—just two weeks before the primary—is “interesting.”
Hamilton County councilor to challenge Brainard in primary battle for Carmel mayor’s office
Republican Fred Glynn, who recently was re-elected to the Hamilton County Council, will run against six-term Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard in May's primary.
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard to seek 7th term
The 64-year-old Republican told IBJ that he hasn’t made a formal announcement, but he has been telling anyone who asks him that he will run again.
Carmel City Council approves more funding for holiday market
The council transferred half the money from its own budget instead of from the police department’s budget, as had been originally proposed.
UPDATE: Judge orders Carmel to halt work on 96th Street roundabout project
The city of Carmel has been ordered by a Boone County judge to cease any work on its proposed 96th Street roundabout project, which is the subject of an ongoing land dispute with Indianapolis.
Extent of Carmel borrowing unusual for Indiana; Brainard says investments pay off
Carmel’s total liabilities have swelled to nearly $1.2 billion including principal, interest and other debt payments, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
Carmel hires New York consultant to promote city, Brainard
In all, the city has paid Rob DeRocker $809,900 in base contract fees, plus nearly $40,000 for travel expenses since 2010, for a total near $850,000.
Indianapolis tries to halt Carmel’s 96th Street roundabout plan
In a lawsuit filed this month in Marion Superior Court, Indianapolis claims its northern neighbor is encroaching on the city’s corporate boundary. The seven-page complaint is seeking a preliminary injunction preventing Carmel from continuing with plans to build four roundabouts.