By MATTHEW RALPH
Brian Meyer beat Sellersburg Town Council President Doug Reiter by more than 300 votes and two of his running mates edged their opponents to give the Democrats control of the council on Tuesday night for the first time in four years.
The Democrats — who didn’t hold any council seats going into the election — gained the edge with three wins Tuesday by Meyer, Terry Langford and James LaMaster.
Republicans Paul Rhodes and Michael Lockhart each were elected to their second terms.
Meyer, a 45-year-old police officer, said he knows them both well.
“I’ve known both of them for a long time and have a high respect for them,” Meyer said.
The new council has several issues to overcome when the three newcomers take their seats in January.
The Democrats ran a platform aimed at cutting spending and vowed to take a look at eliminating the town’s court and the position of public works director and lowering property taxes.
The incumbents stood on their record from the previous four years, touting $14 million in savings to the taxpayers and the cutting of sewer rates, while vowing to address water concerns and focusing on the downtown area.
Reiter, 46, said he was both surprised and confused by the election results.
“We made promises when we ran four years ago and we kept them,” Reiter said.
He said he won’t be disappearing from local politics, just sitting in a different seat.
“I will definitely be there at the meetings to hold (the Democrats) accountable for what they said they are going to do.”
The Republican victors both used the word “bittersweet” to describe the election outcome.
“I feel like we’ve moved the town is a very positive direction,” said Lockhart, a 47-year-old who works in sales. “I for one will be ready to work with the new council to keep this positive momentum and do what’s best for our town.”
Rick Ashabranner, a 48-year-old police officer, expressed confidence in Tuesday’s winners, including Rhodes, the 58-year-old retired Air Force officer who edged him out for the seat.
“I hate to lose but I couldn’t have lost to a better person,” Ashabranner said.
Meyer beat Reiter by a tally of 866 to 555, capturing 61 percent of the vote to finish as the top overall vote-getter.
LaMaster edged incumbent Republican Mike Hostetler by 15 votes. LaMaster’s 709 votes gave him less than 51 percent of the vote, while Hostetler finished with 694 votes.
Langford beat Republican Trinette Imhof with 52 percent of the vote. Langford had 731 votes and Imhof 668 votes, or 48 percent.
Rhodes bested Ashabranner by 82 votes, capturing 53 percent of the vote by a tally of 739 to 657.
Lockhart captured 53 percent of the vote, beating former County Councilman Roy Everitt 750 to 662.
Lockhart, who won his second term on the council, was the top vote-getter for the Republicans.
The shift in party control follows a sweep in the last election four years ago by the Republicans.
