2024 Primaries - Meet the Candidate Forums

HCCF is proud to partner with The Republican Newspaper, the Hendricks County GOP, and the Hendricks County Democrats to present the County-wide 2024 Primary Meet the Candidate Forums.

Questions will not be allowed from the floor during the stage portion; however, attendees are encouraged to meet candidates at their tables on the other side of the hall. Questions were submitted via online survey, reviewed by our Editorial Board, and submitted to candidates in advance of the event. Our Editorial Board includes the Chairperson of the Hendricks County Democrats, a representative from the Hendricks County GOP, the Editor of The Republican Newspaper, and the President & CEO of the Hendricks County Community Foundation. NOTE: All questions will remain anonymous.

During the stage portion of the event, candidates will be given 3 minutes for opening remarks, 3 minutes to answer the questions presented to them prior to the event, and 3 minutes for closing remarks.

Dates for these events (to be held in the North and South Halls of the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex from 5:30 - 8:30pm) are:

March 5

• State Senate District 07
  • Brian Buchanan (R) 
• State Senate District 24
  • Brett Clark (R)
  • Anne Engelhardt (R)
• State Senate District 35
  • Philip Clay (R)
  • Michael Young (R) 
• State Rep District 28
  • Joe Batic (R)
  • Jeffrey Thompson (R)
• State Rep District 40
  • Brian Paasch (R)
  • Greg Steuerwald (R) 
• Governor of Indiana
  • No candidates registered for the Forum

Only contested elections will be represented on stage; however, anyone running for office may set up a booth at any of the sessions to meet attendees.

March 7

• Hendricks County Auditor
  • Sherri Spurlock (R)
  • Ann Stark (R)
• Hendricks County Council
  • Ed Gaddie (R)
  • Larry Hesson (R)
  • Nancy Marsh (R)
  • David Wyeth (R)
• Federal Senate
  • Valerie McCray (D)
• Federal Representative
  • Charles Bookwalter (R)
  • John Piper (R)
  • Rimpi Girn (D)
  • Derrick Holder (D)

Only contested elections will be represented on stage; however, anyone running for office may set up a booth at any of the sessions to meet attendees. 

Tabling at the Forum

Everyone running in a primary*, contested or not, is invited to have a table at the event to meet attendees.

Candidates who have registered for tables:

• March 5 AND March 7
  • Judge, Superior Court 1
    • Joshua Adair (R)
    • Scott Knierim (R)
    • Kathryn Kuehn (R)
  • Judge, Superior Court 3
    • Travis Bauman-Crane (R)
    • Bradford Casselman (R)
    • Ryan Tanselle (R)
  • Hendricks County Auditor
    • Sherri Spurlock (R)
    • Ann Stark (R)
  • Hendricks County Council - At Large
    • Larry Hesson (R)
  • IN Representative 25
    • Becky Cash (R)
  • IN Senate 24
    • Brett Clark (R) 
    • Anne Engelhardt (R)
  • US Representative 
    • Charles Bookwalter (R)
    • Rimpi Girn (D)
    • John Piper (R)
  • US Senate
    • Valerie McCray (D)
• March 5 Only
  • Township Board - Washington
    • Tracy Justice (R)
  • IN Senate 07
    • Brian Buchanan (R)
  • IN Senate 35
    • Philip Clay (R)
  • IN Representative 25
    • Tiffany Stoner (D)
  • IN Representative 28
    • Joe Batic (R)
    • Karen Whitney (D)
  • IN Representative 40
    • Brian Paasch (R)
    • Robert Pope (D)
  • IN Representative 57
    • Craig Haggard (R)
• March 7 Only
  • Hendricks County Council - At Large
    • Ed Gaddie (R)
    • David Wyeth (R)
  • State Senate 24
    • Veronica Pejril (D)
  • US Representative
    • Derrick Holder (D)

How to Participate in the Meet the Candidate Forums

2023 General Meet the Candidate Forum

If you have questions about the event, please contact Eric Hessel, Hendricks County Community Foundation Vice President of Programs, at eric@hendrickscountycf.org.