Mayor
Jim Brainard
Personal: Grew up in Bristol, Ind. Graduated from Butler and Ohio Northern University law school. He and his wife Liz bought a house in Carmel in 1988 and they started their family. He now has four kids, Jack, Will, Marie and Martha. He enjoys playing the French horn and was an active member of the scouts.
Background: Unseated incumbent Ted Johnson in 1995 and has served five terms as mayor. Won his last election with 62 percent of the vote. Prior to seeking public office, he was a practicing attorney and taught at the University of Indianapolis. He wrote a book entitled, “Round About Right,” which tells the story of the redevelopment of Carmel during his administration. He has served as president of the Butler University Alumni Association and was named one of the “Most Powerful Hoosiers in the World” by Indianapolis Monthly. He was selected as co-chair of the Energy Independence and Climate Protection Task Force and Trustee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Web site: www.jimbrainard.com
Rick Sharp
Personal: Born in Elyria, Ohio and grew up in Hollywood, FL. Graduated from University of Florida. Sharp met his wife, Susan, in Florida and they moved to Carmel in 1992. Sharp grew up with three sisters and now he has three daughters, Rachel, Brenna and Sara. He enjoys acting in community theater productions. He served on the Carmel Swim Club Board of Directors.
Background: Prior to his being elected to the council in 2004, he served on the Carmel Plan Commission. Won his last council election with 51 percent of the vote. He previously served on the Carmel Redevelopment Commission and has been elected president of the Carmel City Council six times. He has served as president of his father-in-law’s company, Miller Sales Corporation, a distributor of commercial laundry equipment, since 2000. He also serves as a sales consultant for Great Lakes Commercial Sales. He also worked in property management as a senior executive for nearly 15 years.
Web site: www.rick-sharp.com
Clerk-Treasurer
Diana Cordray
Personal: Graduated from Indiana University and IU School of Law. She is the mother of four children – Ryan (deceased), Doug, Jennifer and Jeana. She has two grandchildren.
Background: First elected in 1996, she is running for her sixth term in office. She’s run unopposed in four of her five elections. She’s won numerous awards and twice served as campaign manager for State Sen. Jerry Torr.
Web site: www.cordrayforcarmel.com/
Christine Pauley
Personal: Born and raised in a small town in Michigan to parents who immigrated to the United States from Poland and Lithuania following World War II. She graduated from Michigan State University. She has three kids, Daniel, 25, Susan, 24 and Samantha, 20.
Background: She’s worked as a senior contracts negotiator for Raytheon. She’s president of the parents guild at Guerin Catholic High School and vice president of the Traditions on the Monon homeowners association.
Web site: www.christinepauley.org
City Council Northeast District
Sue Finkam
Personal: Grew up in northern Michigan, attended Central Michigan University for her undergraduate degree and Indiana Wesleyan University for her master’s. Married to Joe Finkam, a professional engineer and business owner. She has a son named Drew and she’s very involved in youth sports as a family.
Background: Running for her second term on the council. She’s the chairperson for Porchfest and founder of ForTheLoveofCarmel.com. She’s served on numerous boards and committees and she owns her own professional consulting firm, FireStarter LLC. She won the last election with 52 percent of the vote.
Web site: www.suefinkam.com
John Accetturo
Personal: Has been married to his wife Christine for 40 years and they’ve been residents of Carmel for more than three decades. Both his children attended Carmel schools. He served 30 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He has degrees from Illinois State and the University of Wisconsin.
Background: Previously served one term as city councilor, before leaving to try to unseat Jim Brainard in the previous mayoral election. He’s a retired public servant with accounting experience for the U.S. Army and U.S. Customs.
Web site: www.accetturo4carmel.com
City Council Northwest District
Laura Campbell
Personal: Graduate of Carmel High School and Ball State University. Married to Judge Rick Campbell. She has a daughter and two sons. She’s live in Northwest Carmel for the past 13 years.
Background: Currently serves as vice chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party. Previously served as the executive director of the Republican Party. Employment history includes work in the world of marketing in commercial real estate and in public relations.
Web site: www.lauracampbellforcouncil.com
City Council central District
Eric Seidensticker
Personal: A lifelong resident of Carmel and graduate of Carmel High School. He graduated from Butler with a degree in accounting. He has two daughters, Rachael and Charlotte, and he’s married to Heidi Hauser Seidensticker.
Background: His first term as councilor began in 2007. He’s president and CEO of Maco Press, a local printing and advertising business in Carmel. He’s a member of the Carmel Masonic Lodge #421. He won the last election with 51 percent of the vote.
Web site: https://www.facebook.com/Eric4Carmel?fref=ts
Bruce Kimball
Personal: Graduated from Hanover College with a major in geology. Grew up Lebanon, Ohio where both parents were school teachers and community leaders. Involved in the scouts throughout his life. Moved with his wife to Indiana in 1991.
Background: Past member of the Carmel City Center Community Development Corporation. Member of the city’s alternative transportation committee. Former Dad’s Club coach, Social Media Committee Chair of the Carmel Farmers Market, and founder of a weekly community bike ride for beginning cyclists. Employment background is in real estate.
Web site: http://kimball4citycouncil.nationbuilder.com/
City Council southeast District
Luci Snyder
Personal: Graduated from Mundelein College of Loyola University with an AB in Psychology. Married to Philip Snyder and along with their sons they have been Carmel residents for nearly 40 years. She previously taught in Illinois schools.
Background: Worked in commercial real estate and was a principal in the Acorn Group. Board member for the Humane Society for Hamilton County and president of the Carmel Economic Development Commission. Served on the council, left to run unsuccessfully against Mayor Jim Brainard, but then reclaimed her council seat. She won the last election with 53 percent of the vote.
Web site: www.lucisnyder.com
Jeff Worrell
Personal: Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, grew up in Urbandale, Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University. Moved to Indianapolis in 1986 with his wife Shari and then they moved to Carmel and have a son and a daughter.
Background: Member of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission and past chairman of CarmelFest. Past president of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce. Started his own company Advantage Medical Rehab Equipment. Has hosted talk shows and events, including a series of videos promoting the arts in Carmel. Started his own Web site www.gooddaycarmel.com.
Web site: www.jeff4carmel.com
City Council Southwest District
Carol Schleif
Personal: Born in Seattle and grew up in Los Angeles. Graduated from Washington State University with a degree in pharmacy. Married to her husband Ron and moved to Carmel. She received a degree in interior design from UCLA and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture from Ball State.
Background: As part of the SW Clay annexation, Carol was appointed to a 4-year term on the Carmel Plan Commission. She won the last election with 60 percent of the vote. She worked for several architecture firms before resuming her small business, Nightingale Designs, Inc.. She previously served as executive director of Toronto Habitat for Humanity.
Web site: www.facebook.com/carol.schleif.7
Keith Griffin
Personal: Griffin was born in Elkhart and grew up in South Bend. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington for his undergrad and law school. Griffin and his wife, Nicki, have four children. He spends his spare time as a youth soccer coach.
Background: He works as a securities attorney at his own firm, Griffin Law Firm. He’s a member of the Indiana State Bar, the American Bar Association and the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association. He began his legal career as an Enforcement Attorney with the Indiana Securities Division of the Indiana Secretary of State’s office before going into private practice.
Web site: https://www.facebook.com/GriffinforCarmelCityCouncil?fref=ts
City Council At-large
Ron Carter
Personal: Graduate of Indiana University. He and his wife Barbara have three married daughters and ten grandchildren. He’s been a Carmel homeowner for nearly 30 years. He’s an avid cyclist and member of the Carmel Rotary.
Background: Now retired, he spent the bulk of his business career in advertising, marketing and sales management. First elected in 1996, he won his seat last election with 30 percent of the vote. He is the president and co-founder of the Carmel Farmers Market, president of the Carmel City Center Community Development Corporation and past president of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission.
Web site: www.roncarterforcouncil.com
Ron Houck
Personal: Graduated from Central Michigan University. Lived in Carmel for more than 30 years with his wife Pam. They have three adult children and four grandchildren. He’s a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and he founded his neighborhood homeowner’s association.
Background: Houck has worked for Eli Lilly for 20 years in the IT department. In addition, he’s previously served 11 years on the Carmel Plan Commission – with two years as president – and eight years on the Clay Township Regional Waste District. Lost his attempt at an at-large seat in the last election with 20 percent of the vote.
Web site: www.ronhouck.com
Kevin “Woody” Rider
Personal: Born and raised in Indianapolis. Married his wife Richelle in 2005 and they work as a team in their two restaurants. Active member of Northview Church. Enjoys the outdoors and boxing as a form of exercise.
Background: Owner of Woody’s Library Restaurant and Divvy, located at the Carmel City Center. Before opening those restaurants, he owned Parcel Pizza, and he opened the rural-gourmet outpost Bonge’s Tavern in Perkinsville. Board member of the Carmel Plan Commission. Won his seat last election with 66 percent of the vote.
Web site: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.w.rider?fref=ts
