Dayna Colbert is convinced they are stronger as a unit.
Colbert, a 31-year-old Fishers resident, heads a slate of candidates who are running together as HamCo United for the Hamilton County Democratic Central Committee’s four positions. Colbert, president of the Hamilton County Young Democrats since August 2017, is running for chair.
The other candidates are Ronnie Saunders, Westfield, vice chair; Sarah Russell Goddard, Noblesville, secretary; and Al Moore, Carmel, treasurer.
“We wanted to run together so we could have really good representation for the county,” Colbert said. “I think we are stronger with this slate with diverse backgrounds. We come from different walks of lives and bring different perspectives.”
Saunders ran for State Senate District 20 in 2020. Goddard is a health care advocate and Moore is former Decatur County chair.
Other announced candidates include Kevin Patterson, chair, and Heather Hilbert, vice chair.
The precinct committee persons will cast ballots by mail with the vote to be determined March 6.
The Central Committee serves as the executive branch at the county level.
“We would coordinate elections and appoint precinct committee people who help find the poll workers,” Colbert said. “We work with any election issues that come up. The committee appoints a person to be our representative on the county elections board. In addition, the party looks to volunteers to help expand our message. We’re looking to connect volunteers and give them resources, giving candidates resources as well.”
HamCo United’s four key goals for 2021 are: Refreshing the message and brand to build trust for Democrats in our communities; increasing member recruitment while continuing to engage volunteers; increasing voter outreach to encompass voter education and build community relationships; and revamping candidate recruitment processes and training so quality candidates have the opportunity to succeed.
“We have a message that tends to reflect more national trends than local trends,” Colbert said. “We want to focus on what impacts people in Hamilton County and defining ourselves as opposed to having other folks defend us.”
Colbert said in 2019, Democrats picked up three seats in city council races, winning two seats in Fishers and one in Carmel.
In the November 2020 election, Joe Biden became the first Democratic candidate to carry the cities of Carmel and Fishers.
For more, visit hamcounited.com/.
