Michael takes District 44 seat

Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Former Greencastle Mayor Nancy Michael breaks into a smile as she realizes she won Putnam County in her bid for the District 44 State Representative Seat. Michael was among a throng of people who crowded onto the second floor of the Putnam County Courthouse Tuesday night to await election results.

A former Greencastle mayor is on her way to the Indiana House of Representatives.

Nancy Michael, D-Greencastle, bested incumbent Amos Thomas, R-Brazil for the District 44 State Representative seat.

"Before I came here, I was so at peace with the race and with how things had gone," she said Tuesday night after the Putnam County results were announced at the Putnam County Courthouse. "I'm overwhelmed and very grateful."

Michael won all the areas in District 44, including Thomas' home county, Clay. She took 50.14 percent of the votes in Putnam County and 50.08 percent of the votes in Clay County.

Also in the race was Libertarian Darrell Goldman, who took 3.31 percent of the votes in Putnam County and 2.71 percent of the votes in Clay County.

Michael grew up on a dairy farm in northern Putnam County near Roachdale. She graduated from North Putnam High School and went on to earn bachelor's degrees in business management and administration from Indiana University.

Michael was mayor of Greencastle from January 1996 to Dec. 31, 2007. Prior to that, she represented Greencastle Township on the Putnam County Council from 1991 to 1995 and served as clerk of the Putnam County Circuit Court from 1987 to 1990.

"I've been in public service for 21 years," Michael said. "This was a campaign I wanted to run in because it was a place I felt I needed to be."

Because she was such a familiar face in Putnam County, Michael made it a point to do a good deal of campaigning in the other areas of District 44.

"I went all over Parke, Vigo and Clay counties, making sure people knew about my background, my qualifications and what I stood for," she said.

Still, she admitted winning Putnam County was special to her.

"It's my home," she said simply. "It's the place I've lived all my life. I'm flattered and honored to have the faith and support of the people here."

Michael worked as a licensed agent and customer service representative from 1993 to 1995, and she is presently employed in the customer service field. Her past experience also includes time as a payroll clerk for the Indiana Department of Corrections and a payroll and purchasing clerk for the Indiana State Auditor.

Michael is a member of Greencastle Christian Church and the Rotary Club of Greencastle. She and her husband Syeve have two children, Peter and Mary.

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  • Congratulations, Nancy Michael. Thank you for your past service to our city, and may God bless your service to our area and state in the future.

    -- Posted by Light in the Dark on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 12:02 AM
  • Congratulations, Nancy! I'm excited you have the opportunity to serve in this new capacity.

    -- Posted by Ready2Go on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 6:06 AM
  • Way to go Nancy! Next step is the national stage!

    Judy Cook Vander Zwaag

    -- Posted by jvzcookie on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 7:36 AM
  • congratulations Nancy, I knew you could do it, May God be with you in all your indeavors. It was so good to have at least one Democrat win in Putnam County. Felt sorry for the rest of the candidates who lost, maybe they can try again.

    -- Posted by whatno_guessing on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 8:38 AM
  • congratulations Nancy, I knew you could do it, May God be with you in all your indeavors. It was so good to have at least one Democrat win in Putnam County. Felt sorry for the rest of the candidates who lost, maybe they can try again.

    -- Posted by whatno_guessing on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 8:38 AM
  • well i can see that nothing at all came good out of this election, depauw is going to the state house now !!!!!

    -- Posted by lleonard47 on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 12:56 PM
  • Nancy is the new Susan Crosby. A very nice woman who did a commendable job as Greencastle mayor, but she will be out of her element in state politics. For those of you who think she will be an independent thinker and voter, think again! She will vote exactly like Pat Bauer tells her to vote or she won't get any good committee assignments, etc. You Nancy Michael lovers won't like this post, but mark it down and take it to the bank.

    -- Posted by not gullible on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 1:28 PM
  • Congrats Nancy! Do us proud!

    -- Posted by ladycoltsfan on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 6:37 PM
  • I really believe that if Satan and Charles Manson ran under the republican ticket against God and Jesus on the democrat or Independent ticket the county would vote ole Lucifer right in. Same ole toots stay in there, they will live off the county till they die. The horrible mean things I have seen some repubilicans say this election is sad!! I think you need to go to confession for being so mean and nasty. I have known Nancy nearly my whole life and she is a good person who will work for the people. People may live in the dark in Putnam County and vote the same old people that has been in there since dirt was made but the USA has spoke and I for one voted a straight ticket and I use to vote for republicans but after so many forwards in my email that were so radical!!!!! against Obama of course! I thought these are people that make us live in fear everyday! They are the ones keep it gray and gloomy.. Nancy is moving on up! and you can take that to the bank! She will do a great job! People complain over and over about the county roads and how the county is ran but you vote them in over and over . At least DC has new voices of hope and and even Indiana made history this time. The world is looking forward to our new leader and I for one feel like a better american because of him. The change is here and happy days are here again. Good bye shadow thats been hanging over us for so long. and Kudos to you Nancy you inspire people and are a true sweetheart.

    -- Posted by savethekids on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 7:12 PM
  • Congratulations Nancy. I have known Nancy for many years and know that she will give this job her dedication as she has done every other title she has held. She's a good lady.

    -- Posted by B4this on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 7:36 PM
  • ?put down the kool-aid?

    -- Posted by Nick | Nack on Wed, Nov 5, 2008, at 7:39 PM
  • Tell me again how Indiana changed if they are sending the same people back to Congress and we have the same Governor?

    Good luck Nancy. You will represent us well.

    I think her son has nothing to do with her ability to represent us.

    -- Posted by teach4ever on Thu, Nov 6, 2008, at 7:20 AM
  • it's a sad day for us all. i think of all the jobs that have left greencastle under her terms...

    -- Posted by ibeme on Fri, Nov 7, 2008, at 9:22 AM
  • Nancy is a nice lady personallly, but I can not tell you when she was mayor how many times she lied straight to my face about issues I was having with the city. She was big enough to admit to me she had lied but my point being she is above all else a politian and cannot be trusted. She will tell you excatly what you want to hear regardless of whether it is true or not.

    DON'T TRUST HER OR ANY OTHER POLITITAN FOR THAT MATTER!!!!!!

    -- Posted by dcsaiht on Fri, Nov 7, 2008, at 10:34 AM
  • Not gullible: So, I guess the better candidate would have been Amos Thomas? Who said, "I didn't vote for the Ivy Tech funding b/c minority leader Bosma told me not to, and I wouldn't get any good committee assignments if I voted for my district." LOL...good one.

    ibeme: The sad thing is that Nancy was the ONLY democrat favored in Putnam County. BTW...there was a net GAIN in jobs when she left office.

    -- Posted by WiseChic on Fri, Nov 7, 2008, at 1:45 PM
  • CONGRATULATIONS TO NANCY MICHAEL FOR A VICTORY WELL DESERVED. SHE IS A FRIENDLY AND GRACIOUS PERSON.

    -- Posted by Michele1953 on Sat, Nov 8, 2008, at 9:31 AM
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