Butler student runs for Frankfort mayor

FRANKFORT, Ind. (WLFI) - As the Butler Men's basketball team tries to win a national championship, one Butler student is campaigning to be Frankfort's next mayor instead of attending the game. 

Chris McBarnes is, in many ways, a typical college student. The 23-year-old Butler University senior is a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and is majoring in communication, but he's got bigger things in mind.

"People are tired of business as usual. People are tired of that, and I am anything but business as usual. What we are doing now is not working, so let's do something else. Let's look for a new path," McBarnes said.

The Butler campus is abuzz as the Men's Basketball team heads back to the Final 4. McBarnes said he wants to bring that same winning tradition back to his hometown.

"The team is doing things the Butler way [...] and I am doing things the Butler way. The Butler way is all about teamwork. It is all about working selflessly. It is working extremely hard. And in the end, after doing all that, you make a difference," said McBarnes.

In an online poll in the Frankfort Times, McBarnes beat out fellow Republican and current City Councilman John O'Brien. Times Managing Editor Brian Peloza said the May primary will not be near as easy. O'Brien does not think so either.

"I guess I was a bit surprised,” O’Brien said. “He has never had a job. He never has had a family to raise. He has never paid taxes. It just surprised me that he would want to come back and seek that office."

"He is going to have to convince voters that despite his age and inexperience he can be the right choice to lead the city," said Peloza.

McBarnes said he welcomes the challenge.

Current mayor Chris Pippenger has yet to say whether he will seek re-election. As of right now no Democrat has expressed interest in running for mayor.