A vibrant, competitive race for the Terre Haute mayor’s office is good for the community, regardless of its outcome.
That has always been true. But it is especially refreshing to see an energetic contest for the city’s chief executive role this fall. That scenario is playing out as incumbent Republican Mayor Duke Bennett seeks reelection on Tuesday, challenged by Democratic political newcomer Brandon Sakbun.
Bennett is running for a fifth term in office. His previous electoral victories involved mostly close vote totals. His margins included 107 votes over incumbent Democratic Mayor Kevin Burke in 2007; 3,923 votes over Democratic challenger Fred Nation in 2011; 315 votes over Democratic challenger Mark Bird in 2015; and 216 votes over independent candidate Pat Goodwin in 2019.
That latter outcome reflects the impact of a lengthy fracture in the Democratic Party. Along with Goodwin, Bennett’s opposition in 2019 included Democratic candidate Karrum Nasser, who finished third in that race. Goodwin and Nasser received 7,104 votes combined, nearly 2,000 more than Bennett’s 5,178 four years ago.
Goodwin ran as a Democrat in the 2023 mayoral primary, but Sakbun won the party’s nomination 54% to 46%.
This fall, it appears Sakbun — a former Army Ranger captain and graduate of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs — has managed to rally at least some degree of unity and broad support among Democratic-leaning Terre Hauteans. Sakbun has received $233,896 in campaign contributions, coming close to the mayor’s total of $252,158, according to Vigo County Clerk’s Office documents. And, from April 8 to Oct. 16, Sakbun raised $206,935 to Bennett’s $83,398.
Campaign contributions are not a crystal ball to actual general election results, but those numbers at least hint that the race is competitive.
If so, participating voters have a solid choice. Those who sense progress through Bennett’s 16 years in office and like his experience can opt to reelect him. Those who see Sakbun’s ideas for changes in various policies and like his fresh approach can opt to elect him. Voters on the fence — and there could be many — should resist sitting out this election and, instead, read through Tribune-Star reporting on the multiple candidate forums and campaign updates in this newspaper’s archives at tribstar.com.
Competitive races push incumbents to sharpen their policies and strategies, as their track record and intentions get scrutinized. Residents are better served, as a result. Close campaigns also inspire better voter turnouts and civic engagement, both at the polls and through participation in community initiatives.
Sadly, turnouts for Terre Haute municipal elections have been weak, as have those in Vigo County during presidential and midterm election years. Still, the functions of the city mayor and City Council — those offices are on the ballot this fall, too — more directly affect Terre Haute residents than the actions of a president and members of Congress.
Opportunities to vote remain. Early voting continues today at the Vigo County Annex (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Haute City Center (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Indiana State University Hulman Memorial Student Union Building (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.); and again on Monday at the Annex (8 a.m. to noon). On Election Day, polls are open at the three aforementioned vote centers from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as the other locations — National Guard Armory, Meadows Shopping Mall, IBEW Local 725, Vigo County Public Library, CASY/Booker T. Washington Center, American Legion Post 104 and West Vigo Schools Public Safety Building.
Every vote matters in this election, as with any other. The only ones that are wasted are those never cast.
