County Council candidates seek open District 1 seat

Voters in eastern Bartholomew County will be deciding on a new member of the County Council after the current councilman opted not to seek re-election.

Republican Chris Ogle has held the seat on the 7-member board but he will be replaced by either Republican Scott Bonell or Democrat Hanna Omar. Unlike County Commissioners, who are elected countywide, four County Council members are elected from within their districts by voters within that district. Three other County Council members are at-large and are chosen countywide during presidential election years.

Bonnell, 56, is a Columbus Fire Department firefighter and fire inspector, as well as a farmer. He is married to Lois and they have two children. He attended St. Peters Lutheran School, Columbus East High School and Purdue University, as well as the National Fire Academy. He has been Farm Bureau president in Bartholomew County for eight years.

Bonnell said he has deep ties in the Hope area.

"I think representing Hope, I think I can do a good job with Hope. I live in that general corner of the county. They need some help there, in the schools and stuff. I know that they are working on getting a county (sheriff's) officer to protect  the kids and to make it safer in the schools.
"I think I will represent Hope well. I think it is a good community. I have been there and talked to a lot of people. I know the Hope Fire Department up there because I work for the Columbus Fire Department. i will represent them the best I can and will always be available to talk to them."

Bonnell was asked about any specific things the county could do to help Hope.

"It is all in work," Bonnell said. "Are there other businesses that we could bring in to Hope? Something to help the schools? I know it is a rural area up there but maybe there are ways we could interest other companies to come to Hope and maybe to open a business in that area. There is ground and availability for them to work up there. A good fit could be just some local business or a larger businesses to come in."

Finally, Bonnell was asked if there was anything he wanted to say directly to voters in northeastern Bartholomew County.

"I would appreciate your vote in Hope," Bonnell said. "Come out and vote. We are good candidates, there are a lot of good candidates on the list. I would appreciate your vote for Scott Bonnell  in County Council District 1."

Omar, 36, is married to Nebil A Baqhum and they have a son. She works for a financial institution and has bachelors and masters degree in political science from Fordham University. She also holds an MBA from IUPUC. Although she has never run for office before, she serves on the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals. She is a member of Bartholomew County Indivisible, is organizing the FFY’s Great Girls and Wonderful Women event.

Omar has spent a lot of time campaigning in the Hope area, participating in events on the Town Square and at Heritage Days.

"It is an amazing town; Hope is really a gem right here in Bartholomew County," Omar said. "I have met so many different people. There is so much diversity there that people don't know. And there is a lot of young people that really want to make a difference in that town. Which is really amazing to me, especially when you compare it to Columbus where you have a lot of really established people in Columbus who have all the resources. Hope does with very little, but does so much with very little.

"I love that Hope heritage. For a small town to pull off that Hope Heritage weekend? That was really amazing. Their Chamber of Commerce is made up of all these really young people that are doing amazing things and who really want to bring Hope back. 

"If elected to County Council, I want to be a part of that. I want to go out there and help the people of Hope really see what is really possible."

She talked about ways that the county government could better help the town of Hope.

"We need to help Hope develop their infrastructure and their roads," Omar said. "I think if we can do that, that is one kind of low-hanging fruit that we can help, for Hope to bring in more business there. I think if we can do that, that would be a huge step for Hope.

"But I think also just having these partnerships with local towns. I know J.T. (Doane) is there, the town manager, I met him at one of the Farmer's Markets. He is great. I know he really wants to do good things. We need to start working with these people and see what we can do, what other things we can do to help them. 
"We really just need to be a support for the county."

Omar was asked if she had any final message to the voters before the election.

"I have been to Hope a number of times," Omar said. "I have learned that the people of Hope are really special people. A lot of them have been there for a very long time. I want to be a support to the people of Hope and I want to get to know the people of Hope more. I want to be a part of that community. I live about 5 minutes form Hope, and that community is just a gem in Bartholomew County. 

"I want to make a difference in that community. If I am elected, I will not just be going to the County Council meetings. I want to be there, I want to be part of the community."