On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters nationwide participated in midterm elections.
Ballot decisions in Indiana included higher seats like United States senator and secretary of state, as well as more local positions like the Upland town council.
Indiana voted primarily Republican, electing Todd Young for senator, Diego Morales for secretary of state, Tera Klutz for auditor of state and Daniel Elliot for treasurer of state — all of whom ran with the Republican party.
Local positions in this election included one of two Town Council member positions at large and the council member for District 3 of Upland.
Although both of Upland Town Council’s members who were voted in this year are also Republican, broad-scale politics don’t play as much of a role in these ballot decisions as they do in larger ones. The Town Council is more responsible for working with the town’s utilities, businesses and emergency services.
After four terms, City Council member and president John Bonham has lost his seat on the council and the new District 3 member will take the position January 1.
The new District 3 seat will be held by Brian Hunt. Hunt says that one of his goals is to help Upland grow as its population grows, and make sure it is ready when challenges come to its utilities or emergency services.
Incumbent council member at large and vice president of the town council, Ron Sutherland kept his seat and will continue serving the community for the next four years.
Sutherland said that serving on the council is part of being a member of the community, as he wants to give back.
“That's how I view this particular result is that we're trying to have some things be accomplished for the town of Upland, taking certain steps,” said Sutherland. “They've asked me to continue to try to help those things happen. There are certainly areas we need to work on things that we can do better. And so not only working on those things, but taking steps forward. It's just really humbling and I'm really grateful for the support that folks have provided to me.”
