(Versailles, IN) — Candidates for offices ranging from county judge to Congress appeared Monday night at South Ripley Elementary School for a Ripley County Chamber of Commerce forum, giving voters a chance to hear directly from those seeking office before the May 5 primary.
The event brought together 12 candidates and one proxy, with races including prosecutor, sheriff, judge, county council, town council, state House and Indiana’s 9th Congressional District.
Among those on stage were Ripley County Prosecutor Rick Hertel, Sheriff Rob Bradley, Superior Court candidates Shane Tucker and Judge Jeff Sharp, Circuit Court Judge Ryan King, County Surveyor Jeff French, County Council candidates Bryan Franklin and Stan Wiedeman, Versailles Town Council candidate Steve Mathes, state Rep. Alex Zimmerman, Indiana House candidate Victoria Martz and congressional candidate Jim Graham. Ken Barron appeared on behalf of congressional candidate Brad Meyer.
Candidates used opening remarks to introduce themselves and frame their campaigns around experience, accountability and local leadership.
Bradley, the incumbent sheriff, pointed to body cameras, new vehicles and changes to the county jail as key accomplishments during his first term. Hertel said he wants to continue modernizing the prosecutor’s office. Sharp emphasized his experience in criminal defense, prosecution and on the bench, while Tucker said accountability would be central to his approach if elected.
King highlighted his years as judge and former chief deputy prosecutor, saying county offices have worked together to return more than $1 million to the community. French, running unopposed for county surveyor, noted the value of professional expertise in the role. Franklin and Wiedeman each made the case for their experience and approach to county government, while Mathes said leadership means finding the best idea, not insisting on your own.
At the state level, Zimmerman pointed to his legislative experience and committee work, while Martz presented herself as a grassroots candidate and said she does not accept corporate money. Graham said economic development was the top concern he heard from voters across the congressional district. Barron, speaking for Meyer, said the candidate has offered a clear vision for the race.
Questions from the audience focused heavily on economic development, childcare, land use and substance abuse.
French said Ripley County’s zoning code has not been updated since 2005, even as officials face questions involving data centers, solar farms and battery storage. Zimmerman said reading proficiency, affordable housing and childcare are all critical to attracting employers and growing the local economy. Martz argued state incentives should be directed more toward small businesses and farmers than large corporations.
Candidates also split over how to handle large-scale development projects. Martz called for a statewide moratorium on data centers, citing concerns about water and environmental impact. Graham said artificial intelligence needs stronger safeguards, especially in critical uses. Franklin voiced opposition to solar farms on farmland, while Zimmerman said such decisions should remain local and that permanent blanket bans are not the answer.
Childcare drew a broader discussion about workforce participation and family economics. Zimmerman said access to childcare is directly tied to whether people can work and whether communities can grow. Martz connected the issue to wages and caregiving burdens. Graham said childcare is better handled at the state and local level than by Congress.
Substance abuse generated some of the strongest responses of the night.
Sharp called for stronger drug education in schools. King pointed to existing treatment-focused programs and said mental health access remains an area that needs improvement. Bradley described the county’s jail reentry efforts and said intervention can make a difference before addiction worsens. Tucker said substance abuse affects nearly every part of the community and argued that accountability has to be part of the response.
Martz called for better funding for treatment courts and more support for veterans, while Hertel said the justice system must balance rehabilitation with public safety.
On alternatives to incarceration, candidates generally agreed that decisions should be made case by case, with judges considering the facts and using a range of options when appropriate.
The forum ended just before 8 p.m., giving voters a side-by-side look at the candidates as campaigning continues ahead of the primary.
