Fritsch resigns; GOP caucus set to pick two Batesville City Council replacements

Jim Fritsch. (Photo: City of Batesville)

Batesville, IN — There are now two vacancies that need to be filled on Batesville City Council.

Jim Fritsch resigned late last week from the District 3 council seat.

He becomes the second councilman to step down in the past week after At-Large member Bill Flannery announced his resignation at last Monday’s Batesville City Council meeting.

Flannery resigned because he plans to spend several months of the year at a home he and his wife purchased in Florida.

Fritsch did not give a reason for stepping down in his letter of resignation.

Per Indiana Code, and since Flannery and Fritsch are Republican elected officials, the Ripley County Clerk’s office informed Ripley County Republican Party Chairman John Moton of the resignations.

The Ripley County Republican Party will caucus next Monday (November 28) at 5 pm in Council Chambers at the Batesville Memorial Building to replace Fritsch and Flannery.

Members of the caucus will include the Republican precinct committeemen who are serving within the Batesville city limits.

Eligible candidates must submit a letter of candidacy to Ripley County Republican Party Secretary Diane Macek no later than 72 hours before the caucus.

The public is welcome to attend the candidates’ statements section of the process, however, only the members of the caucus will recess to elect the new council members.

The Ripley County Republican Party issued the following statement:

“Chairman Moton, the Republican Precinct Committeemen, and the Party wish to thank Councilmen Flannery and Fritsch for their leadership and service to the City of Batesville, Ripley and Franklin Counties, and the State of Indiana. We wish them well.”