By Adam Aasen
After a quarter century of serving in the Indiana State Senate, 72-year-old Noblesville Republican Luke Kenley has announced that he will retire on Sept. 30, leading to a caucus to replace him.
No date has been set yet but several names have been floated as possible candidates to replace Kenley, including Megan Wiles, president of the Noblesville City Council, Sue Finkam, president of the Carmel City Council and Scott Willis, a business owner and marine who ran against Kenley in the last primary.
MEGAN WILES — Kenley has encouraged Wiles to seek the seat and she officially threw her name in for the District 20 senate seat on July 10. She began her first term in 2016 and replaced Greg O’Conner as council president for 2017. Wiles is the executive director of the Riverview Health Foundation and previously served as president of Legacy Fund.
SUE FINKAM — She has represented Carmel’s northeast district since 2012 and has been a resident of the city since 2005. She was the founding chairperson of PorchFest, an early fall outdoor music festival. She’s a past board member for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and former president/member of Carmel-Clay Kiwanis Club. Her professional background shows experience in management, marketing, sports medicine and more. Currently she serves as director of external engagement at Indiana Donor Network. She and her husband, Joe, attend Grace Community Church and they are very involved in their son Drew’s travel soccer program.
“People have suggested I should take a look at that seat,” Finkam told Current. “I love serving the residents of Carmel in my current role, but out of respect for those that have contacted me, I’ve promised to give it thoughtful consideration.”
SCOTT WILLIS — This Westfield resident ran against Kenley previously because he felt strongly that the Indiana State Legislature needs to change the formula for school funding, which he hopes would return Hamilton County schools to some of the top in the state for dollars funded per student. Willis, a father of three, lost in the 2016 primaries to Kenley with less than 40 percent of the vote. Willis said he will make a decision soon.
“I am considering it,” he told Current last week. “I have meetings scheduled over the next few days with key people in the party to explore another run.”
