A local Democrat is seeking the District 1 seat on the Columbus City Council, but he has not yet officially filed for the seat or been placed on the ballot.
In a social media post in early April, Jerone B. Wood, 30, Columbus, announced his candidacy was “official.”
While he has filed an exploratory campaign finance report, Wood doesn’t become an official candidate until he files his candidacy between the May primary and the June 30 deadline for political parties to fill vacant slots on the November ballot, according to Bartholomew County Democratic Party chairman Bob Hyatt and Taylor Seagraves, county deputy elections supervisor.
While the names of incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch and challenger Christopher Rutan will be on the GOP primary ballot for the seat, Wood’s name will not appear on the Democratic primary ballot, Seagraves said.
“When the idea (of running for council) was brought to me, I didn’t have a lot of time,” Wood said. “After talking it over with my wife and family, I discovered I had missed the deadline to get my name on the primary ballot.”
Until Wood actually signs up as a post-primary candidate, there is little local Democrats can do to help him campaign, Hyatt said.
But once his candidacy is official, Hyatt said Wood can expect to receive strong support from the party.
As long as Wood has a exploratory campaign finance report on file, he is allowed to campaign on his own initiative, Hyatt said.
“He’s a tremendous young man who is good with people that I believe will be good for the community,” Hyatt said.
Previously known as “Jerome” Wood, campaign literature Wood has already generated, as well as his social media site, now has his first name spelled as “Jerone.”
Wood explained “Jerone” is a misspelling that appears on his Fresno, California birth certificate.
Wood’s first name is listed as “Jerome” in the statewide voter registration system, Bartholomew County elections supervisor Shari Lentz said. That means that when Wood’s candidacy is made official, it could be challenged, according to Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.
Wood said his parents moved his family from California to Bartholomew County when he was 7, and he graduated from Columbus East High School in 2006.
He majored in both criminology and communications at Indiana State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2012, Wood said.
Wood works as a leasing agent for an apartment complex, as well as a track coach at Columbus East High School. He and his wife, Cierra, have four children — two boys and two girls — who range in age from 4 to 7, Wood said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About Jerone Wood” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 30
City of residence: Columbus
Education: Graduated from Columbus East High School in 2006 and Indiana State University in 2012.
Occupation: Leasing agent for apartment complex
Community: Serves as a track coach for Columbus East High School
Family: Wife, Cierra, four children
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