NOBLESVILLE — Victoria Spartz, chief financial officer for the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, was elected in a tight race Wednesday night to take the Indiana Senate seat being vacated by Luke Kenley.
Kenley supported Noblesville City Council member Megan Wiles and had urged her to run for the seat representing Noblesville, Fishers, Carmel and Westfield.
On the sixth ballot, Spartz took 54 of the votes cast by 93 Republican precinct committeemen during a special caucus.
Spartz, who is a native of Ukraine, said, “For me, coming here 17 years ago, I never thought about it but we are going to prove everyone wrong what the Republican Party is about.”
She urged supporters of other candidates to join together “because Hamilton County is a wonderful gem.”
On Thursday, Attorney General Curtis Hill congratulated Spartz on her election, said Corey Elliott, press secretary for the attorney general.
“She will make a great senator!” Elliott said in an email. “Discussions are currently under way to determine her future role in our office.”
Spartz, a Noblesville resident, is also an adjunct faculty member at the IU Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis and has served as the vice chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party. In addition to unifying Republicans, she said she wanted to lower taxes and promote limited government.
She is a married mother of two and lives in Noblesville. Hamilton County precinct committeemen were faced with seven candidates seeking the District 20 seat.
Kenley introduced Wiles to caucus members before they cast votes.
Kenley, known for being the go-to legislator in shaping the state’s budget, is retiring after 25 years in the Senate. Kenley said he plans to step down Sept. 30.
© 2024 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.