During a historic night in U.S. politics, Marion County’s most local races saw most incumbents keep their seats.
Six of the county’s nine townships featured contested races for roles such as trustee, constable and judge.
Trustees manage offices that provide assistance to residents to pay for rent, medicine and other needs.
Constables serve orders, such as eviction notices, for township small claims courts, where they also provide security.
Township judges oversee small claims courts where people bring civil claims worth $10,000 or less, including eviction proceedings.
Here are the results, with 100% of vote centers reporting. Results are unofficial until certified Nov. 16.
Center Township
With 81% of the vote, Democrat Kenneth Allen has defeated Melvin ‘Major’ Hall in the race for township constable of small claims court.
Both candidates identified the city’s high rate of evictions as one of the key issues they would tackle as constable. Allen said he would prioritize modernizing the township’s forms so residents can access assistance more easily online.
Hall said he would wear a body camera to every eviction to create a record of how people were treated. He also said he would partner with organizations to hold people’s belongings for up to a month to ease the burden immediately after an eviction.
Decatur Township
Republican incumbent Jason Holliday defeated Democrat Elise Fecteau 52.5% to 47.5%.
Holliday, who is also a member of the Decatur Township Civic League and its land use committee, said he has a successful track record communicating resident concerns to developers. He also opposes township consolidation, and said that Decatur has successfully partnered with Wayne Township to share resources.
Fecteau did not respond to Mirror Indy’s 2026 candidate survey.
Franklin Township
In the race for township, Democrat Temica S. Key narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Danny Meador with 8,629 to 8,592 votes, a difference of 37 votes.
Key said her focus as a trustee would be to make the office more visible and accessible so residents can access assistance sooner. She said she would partner with other organizations serving Franklin Township and strengthen outreach through social media and community events.
Meador did not respond to Mirror Indy’s 2026 candidate survey.
Perry Township
Races for Perry Township trustee and constable were tight as of late Nov. 3.
Republican incumbent Patty Hagenmaier edged out Democrat Ben Brown with 12,347 to 12,255 votes, a difference of 92 votes in the race for township trustee.
Republican incumbent David Taylor and Democrat Jerry Melvin were almost tied in the race for constable of small claims court. Taylor had 12,272 votes to Melvin’s 12,274, a difference of just two votes.
And Republican incumbent Cheryl Rivera defeated Jami R. Sayeed in the race for township judge 51% to 49%.
None of the Perry Township candidates responded to Mirror Indy’s 2026 candidate survey.
Washington Township
Democrat incumbent Frank T. Short has defeated Republican Karen S. Momper in the race for township trustee 78% to 22%.
Momper said communication with constituents is a key issue facing the office. She said she would improve communication by establishing social media accounts and updating the township’s website. She also said she supports township consolidation.
Short did not respond to Mirror Indy’s 2026 candidate survey.
Wayne Township
Democrat incumbent Jeb Bardon has defeated Republican Kent E. Wells in the race for township trustee 71% to 29%.
Bardon pointed to his work to cut costs as the township faced “a very real fiscal crisis” when he became trustee in 2022. The township merged its emergency services operations with Indianapolis EMS, sought cheaper vendors and contracts, and eliminated positions.
Wells said he would look to the private sector, including seeking corporate partners, to help combat the effects of a shrinking budget. As the township office is located on a major bus line, he also said would consider providing transportation assistance to residents.
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Emily Hopkins is a senior reporter at Mirror Indy. You can reach them by phone or Signal at 317-790-5268 or email at emily.hopkins@mirrorindy.org. Follow them on most social media @indyemapolis or on Bluesky @emilyhopkins.bsky.social.
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