Two newcomers join City Council with Third, Fourth Ward triumphs

Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Democrat Veronica Pejril cruised to victory in the city’s Third Ward on Tuesday, garnering 67 percent of the vote.
Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

With convincing victories, two political newcomers will be joining the Greencastle City Council to represent Third and Fourth wards

In a race in which she garnered 67 percent of the vote, Veronica Pejril defeated Haywood Ware, 166-81, Tuesday to capture the Third Ward seat on the Council.

Meanwhile, in a race of two political newcomers, Republican Cody Eckert earned 61.5 percent of the vote in defeating Democrat Steve Snyder, 126-79.

It was the Pejril-Ware race that grabbed the most attention in an otherwise sleepy election year in which Mayor Bill Dory, Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar, First Ward Councilman Adam Cohen and Second Ward Councilor Stacie Langdon all ran unopposed.

That didn’t make victory any less sweet for Pejril.

“I’m just thrilled Greencastle has chosen civility,” she said, seconds after getting a hug from Mayor Dory.

“I’m looking forward to serving all of the people of Greencastle,” Pejril added. “I don’t know if I can say ‘all’ in capital letters but that’s my emphasis.”

Eckert, meanwhile, said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve his neighbors as the next city councilor for the Fourth Ward.

“So many thanks go to all of my friends and family members who knocked on doors, donated to my campaign, and cheered me on,” Eckert told the Banner Graphic. “I’m ready to get to work and excited to bring integrity for Greencastle.

“It’s important for conservative, LGBT individuals to feel represented and know that they have a place in the Republican Party and in elected office,” Eckert added.

“I’m happy for the opportunity to lead and provide that example here in Greencastle. I’m also struck by the magnitude of what Veronica and I have accomplished, in a bipartisan fashion, which will echo throughout Indiana and beyond. Greencastle just lowered a ladder to rural, LGBT youth, providing a rung to which an untold future can grab hold.”

Councilman Dave Murray, who won election to a second four-year term as an at-large member, said the new Council “will be a little different” when it takes office Jan. 1, pointing to the presence of “two LGBT folks on the Council” for the first time.

With mudslinging, personal attacks, Election Board challenges and “uncouth comments” -- as Councilman Tyler Wade phrased them -- hopefully behind us, it’s time for the Council “to focus on the things we need to do to make Greencastle better.”

Councilman Murray said that during the League of Women Voters debate he spoke about viewing Greencastle as a glass half-full and focusing on the positives that have been accomplished.

“I think the folks who saw it as a glass half-empty lost tonight,” Murray said. “It pleases me that so many forward-looking people were elected.”