(Westport, IN) – Andrew David Brunni has announced his candidacy for Decatur County Council District 3, setting up a Republican primary race against incumbent Deanna Burkart.
Brunni said he decided to run because he wants to play a more direct role in local decision-making and believes community involvement matters.
“I’ve always had a passion for government and doing that kind of service,” Brunni told WRBI. “We need people to be involved in order to continue to make good decisions for a community.”
In a written statement announcing his campaign, Brunni called District 3 “home” and said he hopes to represent the area he has lived in for much of his life.
“This part of Decatur County has always been home,” Brunni said. “With the support of my neighbors, I’m committed to continuing to serve the communities that make up District 3.”
Brunni currently serves on the Decatur County Board of Zoning Appeals after being appointed by the Town of Westport. He said the council role is a larger commitment than most people realize, and he believes it requires work beyond the public meeting itself.
“You can say they meet once a month and it’s an hour or two meeting, but there’s a lot more that goes into it than that,” Brunni said. “There’s a lot of time commitment to it … more than just going to the meetings. You’ve got to be accessible to people.”
Brunni said his candidacy is not aimed at criticizing the incumbent, but rather offering a different perspective and experience.
“I’m not running because anybody’s done a poor job,” Brunni said. “I feel that I have a lot of experience working with people, and I feel like I bring a fresh perspective.”
Brunni said he grew up in the area, attended South Decatur and still lives in the same township where he was raised, which he believes helps him understand the concerns of local residents.
“I know the people,” Brunni said. “I know who they are, what they’re looking for, and I believe I can help be a voice for them.”
Brunni previously ran for an at-large seat on the Decatur County Council in 2022, finishing fifth out of seven candidates in the general election. He’s now seeking the Republican nomination in the May 5 primary election.
More information is available through his campaign Facebook page at facebook.com/BrunniforDecaturCo.
