“New Beginning” For Lawrenceburg

Dennis Carr (center, in black shirt) is surrounded

by supporters and other candidates awaiting

election results at the Dearborn County Admini-

stration Building Tuesday evening.

Mike Perleberg-Eagle 99.3

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Lawrenceburg government will look much different once a newly elected council and mayor take office in January.

Democrat Dennis Carr will take the mayor’s office from outgoing mayor Bill Cunningham, who opted not to seek a third term. Carr defeated Republican Kelly Mollaun in a close race, 562 to 500 votes.

The outcome was separated by about 20 votes with one of Lawrenceburg’s four precincts still to be counted at the Dearborn County Administration Building on Election Night. As the vote tallies were announced for the final precinct in Lawrenceburg, Carr’s family and supporters shouted with joy, months of campaigning having paid off.

“I want to thank all the voters. This campaign was a joint effort,” Carr said Wednesday. “We kept our campaign clean.”

Carr, a city employee, said he will take a more hands-on approach to his mayoral duties than past administrations.

In his first term, Carr will be joined by a new-look, all Democrat City Council.

Lawrenceburg Police Capt. Doug Taylor ran uncontested in this election and will replace Mario Todd as councilman at-large. Jane Pope defeated Tony Abbot for District 1. In District 2, Aaron Cook defeated Republican Linda Estes and independent candidate J.R. Holdcraft, who entered for re-election to council race after losing in the Democrat mayoral primary last May. Business owner Mike Lawrence enjoyed a landslide win against Republican Linda Mumphrey Harper.

“Bill Bill” Brunner was uncontested for District 3. He will be the only returning councilman in 2012.

“We have some good people, but we’ll have to slow things down a little bit,” Carr said. “It’s a new beginning.”

Carr said he would like to see the city continue it many services to residents, which he called second to none. However, he admitted that the rising cost of the city’s handling of trash disposal will be an issue to tackle in his tenure.

His next four years will also guide downtown Lawrenceburg through a potential renaissance. The city entered into an agreement with Hollywood Casino owner Penn National Gaming to build a $49 million dollar hotel, event, and convention center at the corner of High and Walnut streets near the river levee.

Carr said he was against the project at first, but knows that this is as good a chance as any to see downtown businesses flourish.

“I think it’ll be a big plus,” he said. “Not every business will succeed because of it, but many will.”