Ochs
NORTH VERNON — Republican Mayor Mike Ochs will step down next year after two terms and has thrown his support to North Vernon’s Democratic clerk-treasurer as his successor.
“We have accomplished a lot, and I wanted to go out on good feelings,” said Ochs, 75, who previously served two terms on the city council. He said throughout his time serving the city, Clerk-Treasurer Shawn Gerkin worked hard and shared his values. Gerkin has served three terms in his current elected office and served with Ochs on the council before that.
Ochs noted accomplishments during his term that include construction of a new swimming pool, development of Tripton Park, downtown redevelopment and North Vernon’s designation as a solar city. “I’ve grown up in this town and this is a town I love,” he said. “We have strived to work hard … we have a good team.”
Gerkin, 49, said he wants to build on that as well as focusing on housing development, finding creative ways to support local businesses and improving citizen engagement and government transparency.
“I’m running for mayor because I want to continue to create opportunities for our community, both for the citizens here now and the future generations that want to stay and raise families in North Vernon,” Gerkin said in a statement announcing his candidacy.
“I’m proud of the progress that we’ve made over the last several years. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Mayor Ochs and city council members both past and present to build momentum towards a brighter future here,” Gerkin said.
Municipal elections in Indiana will be held next year, with a spring primary and a November general election.
Gerkin, also a North Vernon native, said at clerk-treasurer he saved residents millions of dollars through innovative municipal financing, successfully balanced budgets with bipartisan support, increased cash fund balances, leveraged the city’s money to maximize grant opportunities and developed strong relationships with department heads, the council and Ochs.
Gerkin and his wife of 26 years, Chasity, have three children.
