A Carmel anesthesiologist who started a 2017 petition against the city spending $23 million on an antique carousel and boutique hotel has announced his candidacy for an at-large seat on the Carmel city council.
Hannon, a Republican, will face off against incumbents Ron Carter, Kevin Rider and Jeff Worrell in the May primary for three available at-large seats. The council currently only has two at-large seats, held by Carter and Rider, but because Carmel is now a second-class city it is adding an at-large seat. Worrell currently represents the city’s southeast district.
Hannon spoke out against the city spending $23 million on the carousel and boutique hotel at a July 2017 council meeting, the first he had ever attended. He states on his website that he was inspired to start a petition against the spending – which gathered nearly 1,700 signatures – after a city councilor pointed out to him after the meeting that only two residents showed up to remonstrate at the meeting. At a later meeting, the council funded the hotel but not the carousel.
Since then, Hannon has been learning more about Carmel politics and believes the 2017 spending proposals are examples of systemic issues within Carmel government, such as a lack of citizen involvement and unbalanced spending priorities in city government.
“I believe there is a need for more accountability, transparency and stewardship from our elected officials, and my intent is to do what is within my power as a council member to bring those core principles to city government,” he stated in a press release.
Hannon, a U.S. Navy veteran, and his family have lived in Carmel for more than 20 years. He has served as president of the Indiana State Association of Blood Banks and has been a member of the audit and finance committees for St. Vincent Health and the Indiana State Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
Learn more at timhannon4carmel.com.
