Delaware County Council, District 3

What this office does

The county council is the county's fiscal body: it sets the county property tax rate, appropriates the money the county spends and fixes the pay and number of county employees ^{[1, 2, 3]}. Most councils have seven members, four elected from districts and three elected countywide (at large), though some larger counties elect all members by district ^{[1, 4]}. The board of commissioners runs county government day to day, while the council controls the money ^{[5, 6]}. Marion County has no separate county council; the 25-member Indianapolis City-County Council serves as the legislative body for the consolidated city-county government ^{[7, 8]}.

The job in full — the duties the Indiana Code puts in it, the term, what it pays and who sets that, and what to ask a candidate.

Term

4 years, starting January 1 after the election; district seats and at-large seats are filled at alternating general elections ^[9]

Elected

On the partisan general-election ballot; in most counties four members are elected by district voters and three at large by the whole county, while counties of 400,000–700,000 residents elect seven members by district and opt-in counties of 185,000–300,000 elect nine by district ^{[4, 1]}. Every county council race on the 2026 state candidate list is a district seat ^[10]

At-large races

All three at-large seats are filled at the same election, so voters may choose up to three candidates and the top three vote-getters win; straight-ticket votes do not count in these multi-seat races ^{[4, 11]}

Term limit

None stated; the statute that sets the four-year term does not limit how many terms a member may serve ^[9]

Qualifications

Must have lived in the county at least one year, and in the district (for a district seat) at least six months, before the election, and be registered to vote in the election district; a county employee who is elected must leave that county job on taking office ^{[12, 13]}

Pay

Set locally in the council's annual ordinance fixing the compensation of county officers and employees ^{[3, 14]}

On the 2026 ballot

368 races; 147 contested ^[10]

Delaware County's numbers for this office

Legal Insights county office research (Oct. 13, 2026): Indiana Gateway budgets 2019-2026 and the indicator sources linked on each line.

Also on the record for this office

• SEA 1 estimated county-unit revenue change in 2028 vs prior law: $-3,032,730 (LSA)
• MUST taskforce (LIT distribution talks): convened
• wheel tax: none found
• fiscal consultant named in records: Policy Analytics

Measured, for this county

A position compares this county with counties of similar size. It is not a grade: for most measures a higher or lower number is neither good nor bad on its own.

About this race

• Delaware County's council has four district seats and three at-large seats; the District 1, 3 and 4 seats are on the 2026 ballot, and District 2 incumbent William V. Hughes (Republican) was unopposed in the May primary with no Democratic filer ^{[27, 29, 22]}. The number of seats on the state list (one per district) matches the county's results.
• Budget and SEA 1: in February 2025 the council unanimously passed a resolution, written by Councilman William Hughes and read aloud by Councilman Matt Kantz, opposing state tax changes that cut local revenue without replacement; Hughes predicted the county could need to cut 30 to 40 employees ^[25]. In May 2026 Council President Hughes told departments not to add 5 to 10 percent to operating budgets and to hold them flat or cut them; council members said they would likely decline new positions or capital projects without other funding such as grants. The Legislative Services Agency estimated the county would lose about $6.5 million in fiscal 2026 and $12.3 million by 2028 ^[26].
• Other county issues in 2025–2026 coverage: the commissioners voted down a proposed cumulative capital development (building repair) tax fund in May 2026 after residents objected to new taxes ^[30]; the 911 center reported needing 11 more employees it could not afford and the commissioners approved an $85,000-a-year AI system, paid from a state 911 fund, for non-emergency calls ^[31]; as of February 2025 the council had a moratorium on considering tax abatements for solar projects ^[32]; and data-center development drew a June 2026 public education meeting co-hosted by the local League of Women Voters and Muncie Resists ^{[33, 34]}.
• Open seat: Councilman Matt Kantz is running for county commissioner ^{[24, 35]}. Sheriff Tony Skinner, who is term-limited as sheriff, is seeking the council seat ^[35].
• Primary results (election-night county report): both nominees were unopposed, Tony Skinner with 971 Republican votes and Ashley Wright with 1,187 Democratic votes ^[27].
• No 2026 general-election forum or debate for this race was found in reviewable coverage.

Candidates on the ballot

Key points

• Budget and SEA 1: in February 2025 the council unanimously passed a resolution, written by Councilman William Hughes and read aloud by Councilman Matt Kantz, opposing state tax changes that cut local revenue without replacement; Hughes predicted the county could need to cut 30 to 40 employees. (Indiana Public Radio)
• Delaware County government adopted a $64.7 million budget for 2026, about $572 per resident; that is +18.9% compared with 2023. (Indiana Gateway for Government Units)
• Legislative Services Agency estimate: the 2025 property tax law (SEA 1) changes the county government's net property tax levy by -10.4% versus prior law once fully in effect (2028, since delayed to 2029 by HEA 1210). (Indiana Legislative Services Agency)

Sources