COLUMBUS, Ind. — A Tipton Lakes dentist has decided to run for Columbus City Council.
Dr. Christopher Lee Bartels, a Republican, filed his paperwork Tuesday morning for the council’s District 1 seat, which is currently held by Councilman Jerone Wood, a Democrat.
Bartels is the lead dentist at Tipton Lakes Family Dentist. This is his first time seeking public office.
“After thinking about it and having a few people mention it to me, I decided that I think it’s a good fit, and it might be a good calling for me,” he said.
In discussing his reasons for running, Bartels said that his family moved downtown a couple of years ago and became involved with the Columbus Park Foundation and First Christian Church. Some of his fellow Republicans who attend the church discussed the idea of running for city council with him.
Bartels’s priorities include continued downtown growth, education, parks department projects and increasing community involvement with parks and city programs.
“I want to strive for a continued sense of community,” he said. “Growing up in Brown County, we wanted to move back to the area but we settled on Columbus because of the amount of community involvement and the family-friendly activities. I have seen a decline since COVID, and I would like to, however I can, be a part of any policies or any people who come through the city council with new ideas.”
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
