Residents of Indianapolis’ West Side have a chance to hear directly from the elected officials who manage their local services. The West Side Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a free, open‑air forum on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the Pike Township Trustee’s Office, 5665 Lafayette Road.
Who will be there?
The event will feature the three incumbent township trustees who are up for reelection this year. In Pike Township, Trustee John Johnson is running unopposed. Wayne Township’s seat will be contested between Democrat Mike Bardon and Republican Kent Wells. Decatur Township will see Republican Mike Holliday face Democrat Elise Fecteau.
Why township trustees matter
Township trustees handle a range of everyday responsibilities that affect families directly. Their duties include administering rent‑ and utility‑payment assistance, maintaining township‑owned property, and preparing an annual budget that funds local services. While the work may seem routine, it can become a flashpoint for community concerns.
Recent issues illustrate the importance of oversight. A state audit of Pike Township uncovered unauthorized salary increases and missing mileage logs for township vehicles. In Wayne Township, the trustee’s office was at the center of a controversial proposal to merge the local fire department with the Indianapolis Fire Department—a plan that ultimately stalled. Decatur Township’s trustee, Holliday, opposed a separate legislative effort to merge fire departments, reflecting the trustees’ role in safeguarding local public‑safety arrangements.
What voters can expect at the forum
Attendees will hear each trustee outline their priorities for the coming term, discuss how they plan to address the audit findings, and answer questions about budget allocations and service delivery. The forum also offers a practical resource: the city’s website provides a tool to help residents determine which township they belong to.
All three trustees have been invited as the forum is an annual tradition that brings elected officials face‑to‑face with the community they serve. The event is free, but registration is required via the link provided by the West Side Chamber.
How to get involved
Voters who are undecided or simply want to learn more about the candidates can use the upcoming forum as a direct source of information. Mirror Indy’s voter guide also offers profiles of each trustee and details on other races on the ballot.
For those unable to attend in person, the Chamber plans to post a summary of the discussion on its website after the event. Community members are encouraged to stay engaged, ask questions, and make informed choices at the November ballot.
About the source
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom funded by grants and donations, reported the details of the forum. Reporter Tyler Fenwick, who covers housing and labor, can be reached at [email protected].
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
