Bingham seeks re-election to City Council

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Jinsie Scott Bingham, the Democrat incumbent, is seeking re-election to a second term as the Third Ward member on the Greencastle City Council in the Nov. 8 municipal election.

The lifelong Greencastle resident has served on numerous committees for city organizations, an experience she says has given her "a good background for public administration."

"It's been my good fortune," Bingham said, "to work with all kinds of boards and committees. If I wasn't sitting on a board, I was covering its meetings as a reporter, so I have a good handle on how things work or don't work in the community."

As Third Ward councilor, she currently serves as City Council liaison to the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center, Forest Hill Cemetery, West Central Indiana Economic Development District and the Commission on Sustainability.

"Serving on the Greencastle City Council is a privilege I take very seriously," Bingham said. "In addition to my four years representing the Third Ward, I served 25 years on the Board of Zoning Appeals, most of those years as president."

Bingham has served as president of such local organizations as the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce (which named her Citizen of the Year in 1997), the Putnam County Community Foundation (which named her 2011 Philanthropist of the Year), Main Street Greencastle, Putnam County Historical Society, Putnam County Museum, United Way of Putnam County (two-time campaign chairman), Greencastle Business and Professional Women and Greencastle Rotary Club (where she was the first female officer). "Serving in leadership positions in most of the community civic organizations has given me the foundation to bring people to consensus," she said. "Greencastle is full of enthusiastic volunteers who make every effort to maintain our status as one of the most livable communities in the state."

As a broadcaster and owner of radio station WJNZ (now WREB) for 25 years, she was the first woman in Indiana to purchase and operate a commercial radio station. Subsequently she was named to the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame and is past state president of both the Hoosier Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television and the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association.

A graduate of Greencastle High School, she attended both DePauw and Northwestern universities.

Among many other achievements and accolades, she founded the GHS Alumni Association, is a charter member of the Greencastle Civic League, served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 1550, is past president of the Tippecanoe chapter of Daughters of 1812 and served five years as regent of Washburn Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

She is the widow of World War II combat veteran Richard Innes Bingham and the mother of Douglas Scott Wokoun and Richard Frank Wokoun. She has five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Looking at the community's future, Bingham pointed to the $19 million Stellar Grant the city received this year as a springboard.

"It is important," she said, "to take advantage of every opportunity offered by the Stellar Community Grant. The level-headed leadership of Mayor Sue Murray, along with the City Council and a cadre of those volunteers, will carry us into the future."