Tough Year For Incumbent Mayors

At least 22 incumbent mayors, including 11 Democratic and 10 Republican, lost their bids this year for another term, with the biggest upset taking place in Indianapolis with the defeat of Bart Peterson. "The Peterson defeat will mean that no incumbent – from top to bottom – can feel safe next year," writes Ed Feigenbaum. He notes, in addition to Indianapolis, that incumbent Democratic mayors in the following cities lost their re-election bids: Charlestown, Greenfield, Greensburg, Lawrence, Mitchell, Monticello, Plymouth, Seymour, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette . . . . incumbent Republican mayors in the following cities lost their re-election bids: Anderson, Cannelton, Delphi, Franklin, Huntingburg, Jonesboro, LaPorte, Madison, Rushville, Tell City, Vincennes, and Washington. Three independent candidates won mayoral races in Bedford, Frankfort and Franklin.