COLUMBUS, Ind. — A current leader in city government has been chosen as the GOP nominee for Columbus mayor.
Mary Ferdon easily won the nomination with 2,533 votes (62.93% of the vote), with former Indiana state representative Milo Smith receiving 1,492 (37.07% of the vote).
“I’m very thankful to the voters in Columbus, and I hope to do them proud moving forward,” said Ferdon, as Smith prepared to concede at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, when final results were posted.
The municipal primary is the first step for voters to choose the next mayor of Columbus. Incumbent Mayor Jim Lienhoop, also a Republican, is not seeking another term and endorsed Ferdon, who has served as the city’s director of administration and community development during his administration.
“I’m really pleased for Mary,” said Lienhoop. “She worked very hard to develop the name recognition that it would take to be a successful candidate, and credit goes to her and her team.”
While there is currently no Democratic candidate for mayor, the party could still select a candidate for the general election before noon July 3.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
