Occupation/Current Position
Assistant Business Manager IBEW Local Union 153
Education
Bachelor's Labor Studies - IUSB, Masters Professional Studies (HRER) - Penn State University
Campaign Phone
5744857154
Candidate video
I have regularly attended County Committee & Council meetings for last two years. For the past 4 years, I have served as a citizen member on the South Bend Public Works & Property Vacation Committee, and Mayor Mueller appointed me to the South Bend Area Plan Commission, which I have served for the past 3 years. From an educational perspective, I have a bachelor’s in labor studies from IUSB and a master’s in professional studies (Human Resources/ Employment Relations with a concentration in Labor and Labor Law) from Penn State University. As the Assistant Business Manager for IBEW Local Union 153, I have developed personal and professional relationships with the elected officials in South Bend and many at the county level. I am also an honorably discharged veteran, having served 6 years in the U.S. Army and 20 years as a volunteer coach.
The top two priorities I would address if elected to the county council would be supporting and promoting public safety initiatives and being a voice for the working class. Our St Joseph Sheriff’s Department is critically understaffed, needing approximately 50 new, experienced officers in the jail and another 20 for patrol. Addressing and incorporating much-needed mental health initiatives will ease the burden on the Sheriff’s Department and the community. Rebuilding the Health Department also has to be a priority; I believe that governments at every level have some responsibility to care for those who cannot care for themselves—as for protecting and being a voice for the working class, increasing affordable housing opportunities, protecting worker's rights, and promoting local workers and responsible bidding needs to be prioritized.
The county's recent economic progress is highly encouraging and holds great promise for the future. However, it is essential to ensure that the development is governed responsibly, taking into account the welfare of the entire community. While I appreciate the concerns of some of the local residents, I believe that economic growth can be achieved without compromising the environment and by providing sustainable, high-paying jobs to our community's workforce. To this end, I recommend these specific measures: reinforcing our responsible bidder's ordinance to incorporate more robust apprenticeship language and addressing tax abatement administration and code enforcement governance.
I fully support the creation of a new homeless intake center in St. Joseph County using the Housing First Model. By providing immediate access to food and shelter, individuals can begin to address the root causes of their situation and work towards self-sufficiency. This approach has a proven track record of success in helping people overcome addiction, secure employment and regain their dignity. The county should accept some responsibility with this formidable task, including finding a location, and work with the Mayor and the City of South Bend and other community organizations rather than being contrary and obstructive. Under certain circumstances, I would be in support of utilizing the Portage Manor location for the location of the new intake center.
St. Joseph County should utilize the model that offers transparency, fairness, and accountability and best represents the county’s inhabitants without isolating any race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class. I do not endorse a particular preference for either model as long as the constituents of St Joseph County are fairly and equally represented, and the model selected should be decided by the citizens, not by a select few. Regardless of which model the county elects to utilize, an independent party should conduct any future redistricting. Allowing an independent commission to redraw the jurisdictional lines would minimalize partisan influence and select district lines that reflect community interests based on consistent variables. Using an independent commission to select districts may also prevent more costly lawsuits and litigation.
The closure of Portage Manor raises severe concerns about the County's negligence in maintaining the facility. At the same time, several solutions were presented to the County Council, which made no decision. For years, families and residents were repeatedly assured that the home would not close and that a new facility was being built. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to decreased volunteerism, decreased availability of beds, and loss of revenue from the farmland lease. Despite public objection, the County Council voted 5-4 to close the facility. Residents were forced out in 45 days, the minimum time required by Indiana state law. Sadly, not all residents were placed in safe and appropriate housing, as promised by the County. The County's failure to meet its obligations has left concerns about the welfare of residents and their families
If elected, I will commit to transparency by being as open and accessible as possible while performing the duties of a county councilor. Transparency is instrumental to building and establishing trust with the citizens of St. Joseph County while giving the constituents a greater sense of participation and engagement. My strategy to promote citizen engagement is to allow the public an opportunity to provide feedback during meetings and through online platforms, attend community events, and collaborate with other community leaders. Lastly, I will commit to following guidance from Indiana’s Public Access Counselor by adhering to Open Meeting Laws, maintaining transparent responses to public requests, staying informed by keeping open lines of communication with the PA Counselor and staff, and ensure compliance with all laws and ordinances.
Occupation/Current Position
Principal
Education
BS in Education, Masters in Curriculum and Design, School Administrator Certificate
Campaign Phone
5742611007
Candidate video
I bring a diverse set of experiences and skills that I believe uniquely qualify me to serve our community effectively. In 2008 I was hired as the regional field director for Organizing for America, I have continued to volunteer and work to help elect democrats.
I have a proven track record of leadership in both professional and volunteer capacities. I have successfully led teams, managed projects, worked with parent-teacher groups, and managed major crises at my schools while keeping a calm, focused demeanor. I possess strong written and verbal communication skills, allowing me to articulate complex issues clearly, listen actively to diverse perspectives, and communicate with constituents.I am deeply committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of governance to ensure every voice is heard.
Over the last two years, we have seen our county government dismantling the systems we need to support our people. My top priority is to bring back a community that works together for everyone. I will stop the dismantling of our health department. I will work with the department to fully support programs and grants that help poor neighborhoods and promote equity in healthcare. Our communities are dealing with real health crises and playing politics with words while neighbors are struggling is unacceptable.
I will work with the city and community to support community needs such as the low-barrier shelter and long-term care facilities like Portage Manor. We have to be looking forward to what our needs will be in ten years instead of trying to close or sell so many of our community assets.
The duty of the county council is to promote a safe, healthy, strong community. We need to be good stewards of our lands but also have an eye on attracting good jobs that will let our residents live good lives. When we work to bring in new developments, we need to make sure they are environmentally sound and that they display good governance for the betterment of our community.
Specifically, we should provide incentives for companies to contract with local businesses where possible, ensure they have the connections and input with local schools and labor groups to get the workforce they need, and develop a program for promoting the county as an amazing place to live and work.
I fully support a new low-barrier homeless intake center in St. Joseph County. Our community has suffered waves of economic hardships, from Studebaker, to the stagnation of the 80s and 90s, and the spike in housing costs during Covid.
People experiencing long-term homelessness generally cannot go to the other facilities. Motels4now has its issues, but it also has an amazing success rate. Every person they move from long-term homelessness to stable housing saves the community tens of thousands of dollars in costs of emergency services, economic disruption, and lives impacted.
We must also address the concerns of the community. There needs to be a transparent plan for public safety, publicly available reports on metrics, and a reporting process to handle any issues that do arise.
The current system we have here unfortunately promotes a strong gerrymander. We are dealing with that now, as they have forced all of South Bend into one district preventing council people from the other six from having any constituents in our county’s largest city.
It’s also just fair. If 89 counties have that system, it’s unfair to do something different in the three Democratic counties so they can gerrymander their county councils with clever district cuts. Having three at large council members would mean you have three council members who serve the entire district, not just a slice of it. Incidentally, that system also puts the commissioners into at-large votes, meaning they would answer to all of us, not cut one district into South Bend and have two that can just ignore the community.
The county did not put in a serious effort to evaluate the manor and try to support our vulnerable community members.
The task-force that was put together to find alternatives to the closure proposed three different options, which the commissioners never even permitted public presentation. It was disgraceful how they treated our Portage Manor neighbors.
Portage Manor served our community for 116 years. It needed a lot of work in upgrades, but to replace the facility will cost twice as much. We also know that we will need more of these facilities in the future, not fewer. The cost to replace Portage Manor was estimated at over twice the cost of renovations, so selling the property and forcing out our community members was wrong. It was handled badly, and with a pretense of community involvement while they ignored community feedback.
I am an organizer at heart, and that requires constant feedback and community engagement. I will make sure to continue to be accessible in public, have phone and email available for people who have a concern, and try to hold myself to a 48 hour response time to get back to people.
I support public comment and open meetings and will strongly oppose any attempts to limit public input on county council decisions. I’ll even lend you my megaphone if you’re having trouble getting people’s attention.
