Each county is governed by a Board of Commissioners consisting of three elected persons. The commissioners are elected from separate districts but by vote of the county as a whole. Two are elected in presidential election years and the third is elected in mid-term election years.Qualifications: To run for local office, a person must:Be registered to vote in the districtMust have resided in the county for at least one yearMust have resided in the district for at least six monthsTerms: Four-year terms. No term limits.Duties: The Board of County Commissioners duties include the:Appointment of certain county and township officialsAudit and authorization of claims against the countyAuthorization of contracts and received bidsControl, maintenance, and supervision of county propertyPerformance of certain election functionsService as the Board of County FinanceSupervision of construction and maintenance of roads and bridgesCurrent District 3 Commissioner Salary: $70,870.7
Candidate Statement
Hard working, driven and inspired to serve my community and make a meaningful/positive difference in the lives of Hamilton County residents.
Education
Double Major: B.S. Chemistry & Biology
Occupational background
Chemical Engineer in the Water Industry and Business Development in the Energy & Renewable Energy Field
Political Office(s) Held in the Past
City of Westfield - Public Board of Works for 6 years and also elected and service as Hamilton County Commissioner since 2013
I was inspired to run for the position of Hamilton County Commissioner by a deep-rooted desire to serve my community and make a meaningful difference in the lives of its residents. My journey into public service began with a quest for clarity on local initiatives, fueled by my commitment to finding innovative solutions to complex challenges.
My qualifications for this role stem from a diverse background that combines both public and private sector experiences. Serving on the City of Westfield Public Board of Works provided me with invaluable insights into municipal governance and infrastructure management. Additionally, my over 30 years of experience in the water and energy-efficiency business have honed my skills in negotiation, financial management, and strategic planning.
My track record of leadership & achievement, including securing funding for critical infrastructure projects like State Road 37 improvements & spearheading energy-efficient initiatives in county-owned facilities.
Public Safety: Ensuring the safety and security of our residents is paramount.
Infrastructure Improvement: Strengthening our infrastructure is essential for continued growth, prosperity and safety of our residents.
Fiscal Responsibility: As stewards of taxpayer dollars, it is crucial that we make sound financial decisions that benefit the entire county. Hamilton County is the only county/municipality other than the State of Indiana with a AAA Bond Rating indicating the highest credit rating that can be achieved for fiscal responsibility.
Successful economic development and talent attraction is multi-faceted and tied mainly to quality of life. As a county, we have the 6th lowest tax rate in the state, and we must continue to keep our taxes low in order to attract businesses and talented individuals. Further, maintaining top-tier schools is an important component families look at when choosing to move to Hamilton County. Lastly, individuals and businesses continue to choose our county over others because of our strong network of public safety. We must keep investing in our police, firefighters, paramedics, and all other components in order to ensure we keep Hamilton County residents and visitors safe and secure.
Having an effective communication process with the public is vital to the success of county government. We have hired a full time Public Relations person to effectively communicate with our constituents through all social media platforms, educating the public about "what our departments do”, newspapers, press releases and effectively communicating programs that are beneficial to the public. This also creates transparency and has been successful in engaging the public to talk to our elected officials.
The Commissioners and the Council have to work as a team to solve complicated issues such as affordable housing. We currently work with organizations like Family Promise who assist constituents find temporary housing, assist them with workforce skills and assist with job opportunities. This is a complicated situation that we continually work with not for profits and other organizations to address this concern.
I understand that there is a tremendous need for workforce housing in our county; part of that is the need to have some affordable housing options available in order to attract workers that are going to make a positive impact in our community. For example, oftentimes, teachers, school counselors, police officers, and firefighters that work in our county cannot afford to live here. We are being creative in our approach, and we are actively looking for opportunities for housing.
Road safety is my top priority in regards to infrastructure and transportation. We must continue to strengthen our roads through maintenance, expansion, and improvements to ensure safety for drivers and pedestrians alike.
