Roswarski aims for 6th term as mayor, primary likely in Lafayette council race
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski hasn’t made it a secret that he planned to run for a sixth term in 2023. Thursday, he made it official. At-large council seats in Lafayette likely face a primary.
Thanks the Long Center for the Performing Arts for sponsorship help with today’s edition. Coming up: “One Night in Memphis,” Feb. 3. For tickets: longpac.org/events/one-night-in-memphis. And for a preview:
CITY ELECTIONS: MAYOR’S IN FOR SIXTH TIME; COUNCIL PRIMARY LIKELY IN LAFAYETTE
Mayor’s race: Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski hasn’t made it a secret that he planned to run for a sixth term in 2023. He said so shortly after he won his current fifth term in 2019. He said so, again, during Democrat Erin Easter’s announcement that she would file to run for mayor in West Lafayette. Though, he said, he and fellow Democrat, City Clerk Cindy Murray, wouldn’t do much more than a press release to make it formal.
On Thursday, that’s what Roswarski and Murray did – a press release that itemized the pair’s record on downtown revitalization, work on parks and improvements to city facilities.
“Cindy and I are grateful for all the support we have received over the last 19 years and the encouragement we have received to seek another term,” Roswarski said in the release.
If elected to a sixth term, Roswarski would match the number of victories by former Mayor Jim Riehle, a Democrat who was first elected in 1971.
No candidates have filed or announced to challenge Roswarski or Murray. The candidate filing period opened Wednesday and runs through Feb. 3.
Lafayette City Council primary likely: For the third consecutive municipal election, it looks as if there will be a primary for the three Democratic at-large nominations on the nine-seat Lafayette City Council.
As of Thursday, the second day of the monthlong filing period, incumbents Kevin Klinker and Steve Snyder, both Democrats, had filed for at-large position on the ballot. Incumbent Nancy Nargi, also a Democrat, hadn’t filed, but Roswarski recently said that he had word from current city council members that they planned to run in 2023.
Responding Friday, Nargi said she planned to run again and would file soon.
Derek Reuter, 41, a stage lighting worker and freelance producer, filed Thursday to run for one of the three Democratic slots on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
That put things in motion in the county election office, where talk that afternoon was about securing vote centers in Lafayette for a May 2 primary.
“I suspected I’d be the odd ball, running against the three staked by Tony,” Reuter said. “What I have is independence from the Tony's-rubber-stamp crowd while being an earnest progressive with solid integrity, broad experience and adequate wisdom for my age.”
In 2015 and 2019, incumbents with at-large seats – Klinker, Nargi and Lon Heide – tied their platforms together, touted their work with Roswarski and handily beat Democratic challengers in sparsely attended primaries. In 2015, there were two challengers. In 2019, there was one.
Heide retired from the council in November 2021. Snyder replaced him. Whether that same sort of incumbent slate would be in play again in 2023, we’ll see.
In other filings: In West Lafayette, Democrat Sana Booker filed for re-election as clerk; city council incumbents Larry Leverenz, D-District 4, and Kathy Parker, D-District 5, filed to run again; Republican Aaron Abell filed in District 1, a seat now held by Democrat Nick DeBoer.
In Lafayette, incumbents Jerry Reynolds, R-District 1, and Perry Brown, D-District 3, also filed for re-election.
WALMART PARKING LOT SHOOTING SUSPECT PLEADS GUILTY
WLFI and J&C reporters each were in the courtroom Thursday when Anthony Perez pleaded guilty to murder in the fatal shooting of Casey Lewis during an argument in a Lafayette Walmart parking lot in September 2022. Perez fled that day and was later arrested in Georgia. Court records show that Perez is scheduled to be sentenced March 20. Here are accounts, including comments from Lewis’ mother outside the courtroom, from WLFI and from the Journal & Courier.
TEENS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH OLYMPIA DRIVE ARSONS
A day after Lafayette police announced a $5,000 reward for convictions and released security camera photos of possible suspects in connection with a string of fires set to trucks and trailers at Olympia Drive businesses, two 16-year-old boys were arrested Thursday and being held for suspected arson. Five incidents came between Sept. 17 and this week. In a release, police said information from the public, along with work with Lafayette Fire Department, led to the arrests. LPD Lt. Justin Hartman said the investigation was still open, with tips being taken at the arson hotline: 800-382-4628.
AND, FINALLY … BIG ROAD WIN THURSDAY FOR THE BOILERS: Purdue 71, Ohio State 69.
Thanks to the Long Center for the Performing Arts for its support of this edition of Based in Lafayette.
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