Republican Bill Jones, Tippecanoe Township trustee for the past 20 years, is being challenged by Democratic candidate Holden Mugford.
Tippecanoe Township includes parts of the county north of West Lafayette and in and around Battle Ground.
Here, they answer questions about their approach to the four-year position that oversees emergency township assistance, township cemeteries and supporting fire protection.
For more: Find bios of each candidate, along with information about where and when to vote, at the end of this article. Watch in the coming days for more candidate Q&As in other races on Tippecanoe County ballots.
Why do you want this job? Why are you running now for this position?
Bill Jones: After guiding Tippecanoe Township for 20 years, I have several additional goals to accomplish. As a recipient of the highest award from the governor, the Circle of Corydon, I have spent my career in local government and am dedicated to my community.
Holden Mugford: As a Harrison High School graduate and Lafayette native now raising a family outside of Battle Ground, I am deeply committed to protecting the character and safety of our community. I believe that the growth of Tippecanoe Township needs to be managed responsibly so that it benefits all of its residents. We need leadership that is proactive, accessible, and focused on long-term planning. I am running now because this moment requires energetic new leadership that is willing to invest in its future rather than maintain the status quo.
Name two of your top priorities for the position. And how will you handle them?
Bill Jones: Improving response time for fire protection: With the leadership of the Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Department, we are designing an innovative process to provide financial support to the fire department. Ensuring tax payers retain low property tax rates: Taxpayers must be considered in financial expansion of the fire department and assistance services. Tippecanoe Township has one of the lowest property tax rates in the county and leadership must continue to provide value to taxpayers.
Holden Mugford: My top priority is to ensure our township is prepared for the growth already underway. This means investing in the Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Department as call volumes surge, promoting development only when it clearly benefits the people who live here, and forging partnerships with nonprofits, businesses, and governments that connect our neighbors with needed resources. My second priority is to restore transparency and public engagement with township government. I will launch a dedicated township website with public notices, budgets, and records so residents can easily stay informed and involved. Citizens need an open and honest government that they can hold accountable for serving the people.
Township government continues to be targeted by proposed legislation for consolidation or even elimination. Do you agree with those efforts? Why or why not?
Bill Jones: Township government is the closest to residents, and that relationship needs to be maintained except where the cost is not feasible. Reorganization of rural townships can improve service delivery. I have years of experience assisting local government units and will be leading the merger of several rural townships outside Tippecanoe County to accomplish their service goals.
Holden Mugford: Township governments provide a vital function in delivering services and resources to residents. That being said, Indiana is the only state – one of 50 – in which township governments still cover all land areas and populations. To promote government efficiency, some reform of the current system is overdue. Any reform must strengthen services, not weaken them, and I will work to ensure changes are designed to serve residents better than they are today.
What’s the biggest challenge in managing the growth from Greater Lafayette as it continues to spread into your township? And how would you handle that?
Bill Jones: As growth occurs, there will be more pressure on our volunteer department. Taxpayers will need to fund expanded training and make a financial commitment to fire personnel. Administration needs to always consider the taxpayer, while setting the stage for service that is responsive to that growth.
Holden Mugford: Increased Fire and EMS response times as the population grows remains the top challenge facing our township government. Call volume has doubled during a time in which the TTVFD personnel has remained flat. Our dedicated volunteer firefighters have been stretched too thin and deserve to be properly supported. After speaking with Fire Chief Roby last week, there is consensus that the TTVFD is ready to hire paid part-time staff during peak call hours – protecting lives and homes by allowing trucks to roll out of the station immediately when a call is received.
Rate the state of fire protection in the township.
Bill Jones: The state of our township fire protection is excellent. The Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Department is second to none. Their teamwork and support they provide to the community is outstanding and is reflected in the number of runs and service provided. In return, my township understands and supports our volunteers.
Holden Mugford: Fire department equipment is well-funded in our township, but approximately 85% of emergency calls that the TTVFD receives are medical emergencies. With the growth of the area’s population, we need to proactively keep pace and guarantee the number of emergency responders available meets the increased call demand placed on our volunteers. This is why our team has a plan to hire four part-time emergency responders to support our core of volunteers. Nobody, including me, wants to pay more taxes, but the 2027 township property tax rate is going up regardless of who is trustee. Under my stewardship, any increase will be responsibly allocated to fully meet the department’s needs beyond equipment.
Name two specific things that separate you from your opponent and why those matter.
Bill Jones: Experience: This past year the township under my administration was able to secure a $350,000 grant to replace equipment in the department. In addition, I financed our last truck purchase for 1.67% when the local rate was 4%, saving the taxpayers $50,000 to apply to other township responsibilities. Knowledge: After spending over 10 years at the administrative level of local government and twenty in this position, I am an acknowledged expert in local government finance. As a financial consultant I have helped over 20 fire departments with challenging financial issues.
Holden Mugford: Tippecanoe Township is growing quickly and managing that growth requires forward-thinking leadership. My opponent’s experience is rooted in a model built for a different era of township operations. I bring a new generation of leadership focused on proactive planning, modern infrastructure, and genuine accessibility to residents through open office hours and transparent practices. While traditional township models relied on posting physical paper notices on a door, a modern township demands complete transparency. I will bring our local government into the digital age by ending the outdated “Door-Only Notice” policy, live-streaming every public meeting, and launching a dedicated township website. Every document, budget, and recorded meeting will be accessible online so residents can easily stay informed and participate in the decisions that affect them.
Candidate bios
Bill Jones
Party: Republican
Occupation: Retired Analyst, Township Trustee
Educational background: BS MS Purdue University
Past elected positions, if any: Township Trustee 20 years
Community boards or other community leadership and service: Cary Home Board, United Way Campaign Loaned Representative – Purdue, Tippecanoe County Farm Bureau Board
Immediate family: Georgia, clerk-treasurer Battle Ground; two grown daughters, five grandsons
Your campaign site online: Facebook Elect Bill Jones
Holden Mugford
Party: Democratic Party
Occupation: Small business owner, domain investor www.datacube.com
Educational background: B.A. in Philosophy from Purdue University
Past elected positions, if any: N/ACommunity boards or other community leadership and service: Board Member, The Farm at Prophetstown; President, Adult Learners Inc.; member, Haan Museum Music Advisory Board; Leadership Lafayette Class 52
Immediate family: Household: Grace Mugford (wife), 4-year-old son, 1-year-old daughter. Tippecanoe residents: George Mugford (dad), Nancy Mugford (mom), Hannah Mugford (sister)
Your campaign site online: www.holdenmugford.com
ABOUT THE NOV. 3 GENERAL ELECTION
Early voting ahead of the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 6 to Nov. 2 with contested races on Tippecanoe County ballots for U.S. House, Indiana General Assembly seats, Tippecanoe County commissioner and Tippecanoe County Council seats, township positions and school boards.
Voter registration/ballots
To check your voter registration and to see candidates who will be on your ballot, go to the Secretary of State’s portal at www.indianavoters.com.
Early voting sites
In Tippecanoe County, registered voters may cast their ballot at any vote center.
Oct. 6-31: Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St. in Lafayette. Weekday hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 6-9; Oct. 13-16; Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-30. Other hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 31; and 8 a.m.-noon Nov. 2.
Oct. 17: McAllister Recreation Center, 2351 N. 20th St., Lafayette; Buck Creek Community Church, 4915 Ferret St., Buck Creek; Otterbein United Methodist Church, 405 E. Oxford St., Otterbein. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 20: Purdue’s Convergence Center, 101 Foundry Drive, West Lafayette. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oct. 22: First United Methodist Church, 1700 Mitch Daniels Blvd., West Lafayette. Hours: Noon-5 p.m.
Oct. 24: West Point Fire Station, 4949 Indiana 25 S., West Point; Clarks Hill Christian Church, 9510 Pearl St., Clarks Hill; Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oct. 27-Oct. 30: Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette; Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette; Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South, Lafayette; and John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette. Hours: Noon-6 p.m.
Oct. 31: Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette; Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette; Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South, Lafayette; and John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette. Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 2: Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette. Hours: 8 a.m.-noon.
Election Day vote centers
Voting on Tuesday, Nov. 3, will be 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Registered voters in Tippecanoe County may choose any of these sites.
Lafayette
Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road
Lafayette Community Church of the Nazarene, 3801 Union St
The Grove Covenant Church, 3600 S. Ninth St.
Tippecanoe County Historical Association History Center, 522 Columbia St.
Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South
Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South
Northend Community Center, 2000 Elmwood Ave.
West Lafayette
Faith West Community Center, 1920 Northwestern Ave.
Córdova Recreation Center, 355 N. Martin Jischke Drive
Connection Point Church, 2541 Cumberland Ave.
John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road
Outside Lafayette/West Lafayette
Shadeland Town Hall, 2485 Indiana 25 West, Shadeland
Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Station No. 2, 448 W. County Road 650 North, West Lafayette
Sheffield Township Fire Station, 285 Market St., Dayton
Battle Ground Fire Station, 112 North St., Battle Ground
On the ballot
Here are candidates who will be on Tippecanoe County ballots in the Nov. 3 general election. (* = incumbent)
Congress
U.S. House, District 4: Jim Baird*, R; Drew Cox, D.
General Assembly
House District 13: Matt Commons*, R; Brenna Geswein, D; Ben Davis, independent
House District 26: Chris Campbell*, D; Magdalaine Davis, R
House District 27: Sheila Klinker*, D; Tracy Brown, R
House District 38: Heath VanNatter*, R; and Nate Stout, D
House District 41: Mark Genda*, R; Jackson Hayes, D
Senate District 22: Ron Alting*, R; Natasha Baker, D
Senate District 23: Spencer Deery*, R; David Sanders, D; Joshua Brant, independent
State offices
Secretary of State: Beau Bayh, D; Max Engling, R; Lauri Schillings, Libertarian; Greg Ballard, Lincoln Party
State auditor: Jessica Bailey, D; Elise Nieshalla, R; John Schick, Libertarian
State treasurer: Coumba Kebe, D; Daniel Elliott*, R
Tippecanoe County
Commissioner, District 1: Julie Roush, R; Andrea Burniske, D
County Council, District 1: Ben Murray*, D; Trent Richter, R
County Council, District 2: Jody Hamilton*, R
County Council, District 3: Lynn Beck, R
County Council, District 4: Lisa Dullum*, D
County Clerk: Carrie Sanders, R; Karan Benner, D
Assessor: Anthony Hustedt-Mai, R; Kaitlyn Butler, D
Auditor: Jennifer Weston*, R; Eric Grossman, D
Recorder: Kristy Martin*, R; Monica Casanova, D
Prosecutor: Jason Biss, R
Judge, Superior Court 1: Kevin McDaniel*, R
Judge, Superior Court 2: Sarah Wyatt, R
Judge, Superior Court 4: Matt Sandy*, R
Judge, Superior Court 5: Kristen McVey*, R
Judge, Superior Court 7: Dan Moore*, R
School boards
Lafayette School Corp.: District A, Gary Mueller; District B, Brent Clemenz*; District D, Oscar Trujillo Jr.* (all non-partisan)
Tippecanoe School Corp.: District 1, Holly Keckler*; District 2, Josh Loggins*; District 3, William Sondgerath* (all non-partisan)
West Lafayette Community School Corp. (vote for 3): Maria Koliantz, Dacia Mumford*, John Robinson and Laurence Wang* (all non-partisan)
Township offices
Fairfield Township trustee: Ted Hardesty, D; Ray Williams, R
Fairfield Township board (vote for 3): Jessica Holsinger, Amy Paget and Susan Schechter*, D; Perry Barbee and Justice Amos, R
Jackson Township trustee: James Stafford, R
Jackson Township board (vote for 3): Christian Gamble, Tami Greer Minniear and Christine Wise*, R
Lauramie Township trustee: Harold Tull, R
Lauramie Township board (vote for 3): Butch Hammond, D; Jeffery Tull Jr.*, Hal Graham and Joe Sturm*, R
Perry Township trustee: Frank Cedarquist*, R
Perry Township board (vote for 3): Greg Brown*, Joseph Daubenmier* and Dan Huff, R
Randolph Township trustee: Jeanne Benjamin*, R
Randolph Township board (vote for 3): Fred Inskeep*, Natalie Kanaby* and William Kitterman*, R
Sheffield Township trustee: Pamela Crum*, R
Sheffield Township board (vote for 3): Jerry Arvin*, Jane Coleman* and Terry Thayer, R
Shelby Township trustee: Treeva Sarles, R
Shelby Township board (vote for 3): Susan Rowe, D; Heather Beasley, Steve Lange* and Donald Nesbitt*, R
Tippecanoe Township trustee: Bill Jones*, R; Holden Mugford, D
Tippecanoe Township board: John Muller, Barbara Whitlock and Dean Whitlock, D; Jim Fields*, Dan Haan* and Sam Richardson*, R
Union Township trustee: Jo Ritchie*, R
Union Township board (vote for 3): Mary Grace Gish*, Steve Plantenga* and Paul Sietsma*, R
Wabash Township trustee: Angel Valentin*, D; John W. Wilson, R
Wabash Township board (vote for 3): Ian Pytlarz*, David Tate* and Briton Weise, D; Frank Hannan, Eric Hoppenjans and Jeffery Stefancic, R
Washington Township trustee: Karen Cadle, R
Washington Township board (vote for 3): Tom Davidson*, Nate Hofmann* and Kevin Riggenbach, R
Wayne Township trustee: Norman Hayman*, R
Wayne Township board (vote for 3): Larry Guentert, D; Mark Christian*, Phil Katter* and Pam Rosen, R
Wea Township trustee: Alfonso Salazar Jr., D; Alan Williams, R
Wea Township board (vote for 3): Dennise Grater, Talitha Huber and Jesse Washburn, D; Andrea Moore*, Susan Pfeifer and Aaron Slagel*, R
Towns
Dayton town clerk-treasurer: Stephen Parks, independent
Dayton Town Council: Steven Schuhle*, Marc Buhrmester*, Vickie Beavers, Robert Hainje and Mike Harris, independent
Otterbein clerk-treasurer: Deandra Pritchett, R
Otterbein Town Council: Jackey Apache* and Craig Martin*, R
Shadeland Town Council: Ken Stacy, D; Tim Balensiefer*, David Downey* and David Vanderkleed*, R
Ballot questions
West Lafayette Community School Corp. property tax referendum: “Shall West Lafayette Community School Corporation increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding academic programming and operating expenditures and sustaining educational and operational stability in response to reductions in property tax revenue by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.5706 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $16,100,000. If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $350,000, the property’s annual property tax bill would increase by $956 per year. The most recent operating referendum public question proposed by the school corporation was held in 2023 and passed.”
Public question No. 1 (statewide): “Currently, under the Constitution of the State of Indiana, a person charged with murder or treason is not entitled to be released on bail if the proof is evident or the presumption strong. Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to provide that a person charged with an offense other than murder or treason is not entitled to bail if: (1) the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community. (This question concerns Article 1, Section 17 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.)”
Public question No. 2 (statewide): “Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to permit the judge of a city or town court to reside in: (1) the county in which the court is located; or (2) the bordering county closest to the city or town in which the court is located? (This question concerns Article 6, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.)”
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