GREENFIELD — A Democrat who filed earlier this year to run for a Greenfield City Council seat says he no longer considers himself a candidate in the race, although his name will be on the November ballot.
Chris Beushausen, 34, planned to run against incumbent Republican councilman Gary McDaniel for the District 1 seat on the Greenfield City Council. The district includes the far east side of Greenfield. Beushausen, however, who had lived in Greenfield since 2014, recently moved back to Indianapolis, where he had lived a few years prior.
According to Hancock County Superior Court 1 court records, Court Commissioner Cody Coombs on Aug. 21 handed down an order of eviction against Beushausen, who had lived at Bluestone Apartments on Blue Road.
Beushausen confirmed in an email to the Daily Reporter that he’s ending his campaign for city council. He said he had to move back to Indianapolis because of personal and employment reasons.
“I really wish it didn’t happen like this,” he wrote. “But life happens.”
Hancock County Clerk Lisa Lofgreen told the Daily Reporter that Beushausen needed to submit a form to the county to withdraw from the ballot no later than last week. Last Thursday, the Hancock County Election Board confirmed the Nov. 5 ballot for races in Greenfield, Fortville, Cumberland and New Palestine.
Lofgreen said county election officials had been communicating with Beushausen over the past few weeks about the withdrawal form, but he didn’t submit the paperwork in time to the county. Lofgreen said because of this, his name will still appear on the ballot, but he’s an ineligible candidate.
Beushausen was one of two Democrats vying for a seat on the city council. Democrat Laura Latimer is running against Republican candidate George Plisinski II in the Greenfield City Council District 3 race.
Another Democrat, 22-year-old Zachary LaFavers, is facing off against Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell, a Republican who’s seeking his second full term as mayor.
Hancock County Democratic Party Chairman Randy Johnson said he’s always disappointed when candidates are lost before an election, but he’s already talking with a few Democratic hopefuls for 2020.
Early voting begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 8 in the Hancock County Courthouse. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
An earlier version of this article said Beushausen moved to Greenfield in 2013. It was 2014. We regret the error.
