Template:Mayor Kelso - Character/Quillsville Mayor

1979

Kelso announced his candidacy for mayor of Quillsville in 1979 and defeated the Republican incumbent Mike Ollie, defeating him by a massive landslide, 59%-40%, a 19-point margin. Kelso then defeated Democrat challenger, Mike Gilroy, 52 percent to 41 percent. When Kelso took office in 1980, he became Quillsville's first Republican mayor since 1947. Among his accomplishments during his first term were the establishment of charter schools in the city and development of several arts and culture initiatives.

1983

Kelso won reelection to a second term, defeating an unnamed Democratic Quill County Councilman (54–46%).

1987

Kelso won reelection to a third term, defeating a second unnamed Democrat (68–32%).

1991

Kelso won reelection to a fourth term, defeating Democrat Jill Long Thompson (67–31%).

1995

Kelso won reelection to a fifth term, defeating Democrat Jill Long Thompson (67–32%). He becomes the first Quillsvillian mayor to be elected to five terms

1999

Kelso won reelection to a sixth term, defeating Democratic challeger John Gregg (66-31%).

2003

Kelso won reelection to a seventh term, defeating Democrat Melina Kennedy (60-30%). During his seventh term, he led the efforts to consolidate city and county government, merging the Quillsville City Council with the Quill County Council to form the Quillsville Metropolitan Council under the leadership of Quill County Counclilwoman Chloe Anderson. Kelso is also credited for attracting additional downtown development including the construction of two Marriott Hotels in Quillsville.

2007

Kelso won reelection to an eighth term, defeating Democrat Melina Kennedy (80-15%)

2011

Kelso won reelection to a ninth term, defeating Deomocrat Melina Kennedy and Libertaraian Rupert Boneham (70-20%).

2015

Kelso won reelection to an unprecedented tenth term, defeating Democrat Melina Kennedy and Libertarian Rupert Boneham (83–13-4%).

2019

Kelso ran for reelection to an eleventh term but would have been defeated in the Republican primary by former Indianapolis news anchorwoman Nicole Pence (89–11%), who went on to win the general election defeating Democratic challenger Alisan Porter.

Kelso was expected to easily cruise to re-election in 2019 as no well-known opponents entered the race until the last month, leaving relatively unknown political newcomer Nicole Pence as his Republican opposition with Alisan Porter and Melina Kennedy as the Democratic opponents. Indeed, many thought that the once-dominant Democratic Party was all but dead in the city. However, largely due to high property taxes and a rising crime rate, several polls rated the race about even as election day approached. However, in "The Rape of Heather Willis," Kelso resigned as he would have been first mayor to lose his seat in a primary in the city's 200-year history. His resignation also saw Pence becoming Quillsville's first female mayor.

Now a "fallen star", the loss prompted many pundits to declare it the biggest political upset in Indiana history since Greg Ballad.