Board members for eight years, Mercer and Mertz said they have helped lead the district through some challenging times. Hartman, a mother of four students in Perry Schools, said she looking forward to bringing her perspective to the board.
Mercer, who has spent most of his career working within state government as an administrative law judge for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, has resided in Perry Township for more than 40 years. His wife, Ruth Ake Mercer, taught in the district. Their five children graduated from Southport High, and they have eight grandchildren who are or will be attending Perry Schools.
Mertz has lived in the township for 40 years and is a 1987 graduate of Perry Meridian. His wife, Jennifer Horton Mertz, is a 1989 grad; their two children attend Perry Schools. Mertz graduated from Ball State with majors in marketing and speech communications. He serves as vice president and sales manager of Meridian Marketing.
Hartman graduated from Perry Meridian in 1996. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in consumer affairs from Purdue University in 1999, she and her husband, Joe Hartman, also a Perry grad, returned to the Southside to raise their family. Mrs. Hartman is the administrative coordinator for Community Hospital South’s surgical services.