Terre Haute Mayor Bennett takes oath of office
By Jonathan Moore
After much controversy Duke Bennett was sworn in this month as the mayor of Terre Haute. He’s the first Republican to become mayor since Leland Larrison in 1967.
He defeated Democrat incumbent Kevin Burke by 110 votes. Official recount results from a court appointed commission had Bennett receiving 5,054 votes to Burke’s 4,944. Burke asked for a recount when the election night results showed the margin of victory as less than one percent.
Burke also challenged Bennett’s eligibility for candidacy based on Hatch Act, a federal law that restricts the political activities of individuals who handle federal money, including Head Start. Bennett was the director of operations at Hamilton Center, which operates an Early Head Start program.
He argued that Bennett’s role with Hamilton Center’s Early Head Start program prevented Bennett from becoming the mayor. But a Vigo County judge ruled Bennett was no longer a candidate and could not be affected by Indiana law.
“I think the most important is don’t forget how you got there,” said Duke Bennett after being sworn in on Jan. 1 at Ivy Tech’s auditorium. “In my case it has been a desire to serve the citizens of this community and doing what is right. I can never be something that somebody else wants me to be. I will always be who I am.”
Bennett said he would make the tough decisions and do what is right for the Terre Haute community. ”I am not going to make decisions based on trying to get another four years. And that is what happens to so many people.”
“The only way we can move Terre Haute forward is together. We can’t do it by a mayor. We can’t do it by a city council. We can’t sit back and wait for someone to lead us. We need to follow right along and lead the way ourselves,” Bennett said.
Bennett said Terre Haute was a French word for high ground and should work to live up to it.
“It is what we have always heard and we need to make it that way. The election is over. It is time for the politics to stop. It is time for all the ugly parts to go and melt away and do the things that is right for everybody as a member of this community. And you can be assured I will do that,” Bennett said.
Bill Treadway, Vigo County Republican chair believes his party is a big tent, including all walks of life and it is reflective in Mayor Bennett. “I can say from knowing him for over 20 years all of them very active. He is going to be a fantastic mayor. He is not going to be a Republican. He is going to be mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana.