Bartholomew County Commissioner
Josh Burbrink
District 1
With a fervent spirit of service, Josh has dedicated over six years to the Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department as a Volunteer Firefighter EMT, showcasing his commitment to the safety and well-being of his community.
Beyond his service in the fire department, Josh serves as the Vice President for the Friends of the Library NonProfit, closely affiliated with the Bartholomew County Public Library where his spouse works as a librarian. This involvement underscores his belief in the importance of public education and community programs.
Josh's passion for disaster preparedness is evident through his advocacy for emergency communication and his belief in the necessity of every household to be prepared. He understands that disaster response is not just about individual preparedness but also about fostering community solidarity, where neighbors come together to support one another.
Driven by his values of compassion and cooperation, Josh aligns himself with the Democratic platform, emphasizing the importance of aiding others in times of need rather than exacerbating divides. As a candidate, he aims to champion these principles, fostering a safer, more connected Bartholomew County for all its residents.
Website: voteburbrink.com
Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-josh-burbrink-2
Beyond his service in the fire department, Josh serves as the Vice President for the Friends of the Library NonProfit, closely affiliated with the Bartholomew County Public Library where his spouse works as a librarian. This involvement underscores his belief in the importance of public education and community programs.
Josh's passion for disaster preparedness is evident through his advocacy for emergency communication and his belief in the necessity of every household to be prepared. He understands that disaster response is not just about individual preparedness but also about fostering community solidarity, where neighbors come together to support one another.
Driven by his values of compassion and cooperation, Josh aligns himself with the Democratic platform, emphasizing the importance of aiding others in times of need rather than exacerbating divides. As a candidate, he aims to champion these principles, fostering a safer, more connected Bartholomew County for all its residents.
Website: voteburbrink.com
Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-josh-burbrink-2
Bartholomew County Council - At Large
Michelle Carr
Michelle Carr has been a lifelong resident of Bartholomew County, Indiana. She has dedicated her work career to jobs which involved customer service and volunteering within our community. Most of her volunteer time involves grassroots environmental work as she is passionate about everyone being able to explore and enjoy nature. She has two LGBTQ+ children who have inspired her to run in order to protect the youth in our county from discrimination and the school to prison pipeline. She knows that the biggest change happens when people work together and hopes you will help her to create change within our county.
Three Key Focuses:
|
Nancy Merbitz
Born and raised Hoosier, back home again in Indiana and ready to serve the community I love.
Website: www.campaigntoelectnancymerbitz.com/ Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/campaign-to-elect-nancy-merbitz-2# |
Zack Patchett
Zack Patchett has lived in Columbus since 2013 when his family moved from Colorado for work at Cummins. As a high schooler, Zack found a new home at Columbus East High School and connected with the larger community of Bartholomew County while working at the downtown Dairy Queen. After graduating in 2016, Zack left Columbus to attend Purdue University in West Lafayette. He returned spring 2020, and graduated from home with a BS in Applied Statistics and a minor in Management. Since returning to Columbus, Zack has gained practical problem solving experience both in the corporate world and in the community having spent many hours attending council and commission meetings, community engagement events, and using his voice and time to speak up for marginalized communities in Bartholomew County. His platform is built upon affordable housing for all, renewable and clean energy sources, transparency in local government, and paying county employees a competitive wage. At Purdue, Zack met the brilliant and beautiful phycologist (water scientist) Grace Gusler, who he married under Henry Moore’s Large Arch in front of the Bartholomew County Library in 2023. They reside on the north side of Columbus with their two cats Moose and Mongo.
Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-zack-patchett-1 |
State Representatives
Ross ThomasDistrict 59
"I'm an attorney, small business owner, married father of 3 and a youth baseball coach. I have a successful career, so I don't want to be a career politician. I'm not focused on national politics and I have no time for "Culture War" issues. I am focused on finding common sense ways to help Hoosier families and improve our quality of life."
Website: https://www.voterossthomas.com/ Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/committee-to-elect-ross-thomas-1 |
Trish WitcombDistrict 69
Trish Whitcomb is a 7th-generation daughter of Indiana. Raised in Seymour from age five, she is the daughter of former Republican Governor Ed Whitcomb and First Lady Pat Whitcomb. Throughout her life, Trish campaigned alongside her parents and, as an adult, she continued helping other prominent candidates, organizing volunteers, drafting policy and gaining valuable experiences. Under her father’s stewardship as a Republican Governor, he championed the environment, childcare, and increased federal funding for education. Trish Whitcomb’s core political values have steadfastly focused on these issues. After the Watergate scandal, Trish joined the Democratic Party to fight for transparency in government, believing as a Democrat she could better advocate for these concerns and the rights of others.
Website: https://www.whitcomb4indiana.com/ Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/whitcomb-for-indiana-1 |
Hollie PaytonDistrict 73
Hollie is a lifelong Hoosier with a passion for advocacy. Hollie has helped people find their voice as a pancreas transplant recipient of almost 9 years, in which Hollie’s had to learn self-advocacy for her healthcare, and as the mother of an amazing Autistic young man of whom she’s become an individual advocate for to ensure his needs are being met. Hollie uses her employment and various organizations that she is part of to give back to her community. In 2022, Hollie became active with her local Democratic party & was elected to the Central Committee as the Vice-Chairperson of the Decatur County Democrats. Hollie has been employed as a Program Facilitator at Girls Inc. of Shelbyville & Shelby County for the past six years. This non-profit organization speaks to her heart, as their motto is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. As a recent alumnae of the 2024 Hoosier Women Forward Class 6, Hollie learned the many different aspects of both the political field as well as the non profit organization field. Her ultimate goal is to educate others while advocating for marginalized communities and to move our state forward.
Website:https://holliepaytonforind.wixsite.com/hollie-payton-for-in/ Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hollie-payton-for-in-1 |
State Offices
Destiny WellsAttorney General
"Growing up on a family farm in Morgan County, I learned the values that small-town Hoosiers hold dear: family, freedom, and opportunity. I am the daughter of eight generations of farmers, whose love for working the land has stayed true even through hardship.
After 9/11, I enlisted in the Army National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan in 2016-2017. I also became a lawyer and an entrepreneur. Presently, I'm an Army Reserve Lt. Colonel in Military Intelligence, an attorney, a wife, and a mother. I'm also your candidate for Indiana Attorney General, so I can defend Democracy and freedom at home, as I did in the Service." Website: https://www.wellsforindiana.com/ Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/wells-for-indiana-2 |
Jennifer McCormickGovernor
Jennifer McCormick is a lifelong educator and Indiana native committed to building a state where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Growing up on a small family farm in New Castle, Indiana, Jennifer witnessed the opportunities and challenges facing Indiana. Her community was full of spirit and support, and the public school was the community’s front porch. Neighborhoods were filled with kids, and families had an opportunity to thrive. Yet, as good paying jobs left her community, she saw families, small businesses, schools, and local infrastructure suffer. It was during these times that Jennifer also witnessed the resilience of Hoosiers. Her dad, an engineer by trade, and her mom, a retail store manager, instilled in Jennifer the importance of public service, empowering others, and excellence in hard work. It became evident that true public service required an approach of bringing all voices to the table, respecting others and ensuring no one was left behind. Website: https://www.mccormickforgov.com/ Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jfg-website |
Federal Democratic Candidates for Bartholomew County
- Cynthia (Cinde) Wirth, Doctoral Candidate - US House - Indiana District 6
- Dr. Tim Peck - US House - Indiana District 9
- Dr. Valerie McCray - Senate
- Tim Walz - Vice President
- Kamala Harris - President