Noblesville novelist to replace Ray Maddalone on Hamilton East library board

The Hamilton County Commission on Monday elected a Noblesville novelist to replace Ray Maddalone on the Hamilton East Public Library board.

Susan Crandall was nominated by Commissioner Steve Dillinger and elected unanimously by the three-member board.

Crandall is an award-winning author of women’s fiction, romance and suspense. Her husband, Bill Crandall, previously served on the library board before stepping down and being replaced by commissioners with Maddalone in July, 2023.

But Maddalone’s tenure was controversial and marked by disruptive public meetings, as a staunch conservative-leaning new majority pushed a book relocation policy that brought national attention.

Maddalone resigned in October after the state's public access counselor ruled that he and former Board President Laura Alerding violated Open Door Law when they met privately at a coffee shop with board attorneys Chris Greisl and Mark Crandley to discuss library business.

Dillinger said the commissioners waited until after the election to replace Maddalone because of the political sensitivity of the board’s make-up. Two of its most conservative members, Maddalone and Laura Alerding, have now been replaced.  

But with last week’s resignation of library Director Edra Waterman after 12 years on the job, Dillinger said there was a new urgency to get the board back to full strength to search for a replacement and he thinks Crandall will be a steady, moderate voice.

“I consider her to be very objective, someone who can really look at both sides of an issue,” Dillinger said.  “There has just been so much controversy there and I don’t like to have to micromanage what appointees are doing.”

Maddalone was part of the new wave of four conservatives that joined HEPL's board last year, including controversial pastor Micah Beckwith and Tiffanie Ditlevson, elected last week to the Fishers City Council.

The majority ordered a review of thousands of books to determine if they contained material they considered too sensitive for children and to move them to the adult section if they were. Howls of protest ensured, including from Indiana teen author John Green and other writers, and the policy was placed on hold.

The HEPL board's seven members are appointed by the County Council, the County Commission, the Noblesville School Board and Hamilton Southeastern School Board. They manage the budget, hire the library director and develop policy at two libraries in Noblesville and Fishers.

The board now consists of the following members:

• Susan Crandall, Hamilton County Commission.
• Craig Siebe, County Commission.
• Tiffanie Ditlevson, County Council.
• Micah Beckwith, County Council.
• Bill Kenley, Noblesville School Board.
• Michelle Payne, Noblesville School Board.
• Andre Miksha, Hamilton Southeastern School Board.

Crandall will serve out Maddalone’s term, which expires August 2024.

Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418 or email him at john.tuohy@indystar.com. Follow him on Facebook and X/Twitter.