(Editor’s Note: Fred Swift is a columnist for the Hamilton County Reporter.  In this commentary, he looks at whether John Ditslear, mayor of the city to our north, Noblesville, is likely to seek another term in office.  This story is reprinted through a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com.  You can have the Hamilton County Reporter sent to your e-mail Inbox free of charge by signing up at this link.)  

by

Fred Swift

Is Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear serving his last term as the city’s chief executive or will he run again? “Probably not, but then part of me says why not?” He feels so much has been done and so many things are yet on the drawing board. “I enjoy the work” and a final decision need not be made for a little over 18 months, he points out.

There has been speculation since his  most recent election in 2015 that it would be his last run. Ditslear is in his 14th year at the helm. The mayor is a Republican, but due to unusual political circumstances he was first elected as an independent and has since run on the GOP ticket.

A tip-off on the next election might be the fact that Gov. Eric Holcomb is scheduled to come for a political fundraiser this summer for Chris Jensen, a city councilor who is believed interested in running for mayor. It would be politically inappropriate for a governor to come to town supporting a potential candidate other than the incumbent mayor of the same political party if that mayor was planning re-election.

A lot of change has happened in Noblesville during the Ditslear years. The population is now nearing 55,000. Among the most notable progress in those years has been the explosive growth to the southeast where the Hamilton Town Center and numerous new businesses and subdivisions have been developed.

And, closer in to the city’s center, big changes are underway west of White River where Federal Hill Commons has just been completed, a new Riverview expansion is planned and the Blue Sky Technology Center is nearing completion. Walking trails, some completed and some planned, are a popular amenity.

Before Ditslear’s present term ends in 2019 the city administration hopes to see a dramatic upgrade of State Road 37 underway along with a Pleasant Street bypass of the downtown area.

It hasn’t all been easy. Two years ago budgetary constraints resulted in the city administration asking residents to pay individually for trash pickup. It was controversial, but the mayor said very necessary if other city services were to be maintained. The city council finally agreed after much debate.

Increases in taxes and fees are never popular. Just this week the city had to announce an increase in sewer rates because federal and state agencies are mandating the separation of more storm and sanitary sewers to avoid river pollution.

Ditslear has lived in Noblesville since 1966. He is a native of Ohio and a graduate of Miami University at Oxford, OH. He served as a U.S. Naval officer. He went into the insurance business upon coming to Noblesville, serving as an agent for American United Life. He served on the school board and was a founding member of the Roots of Life Church. Since being mayor he served a year as president of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

“I think we’ve done a pretty good job,” the mayor says. Does that mean he might want to stay on? Probably not, but he may keep ’em guessing to the end.