Occupation/Current Position
County Councilman District F
Education
BS in Business Administration
Campaign Phone
5742999371
Candidate video
I was the Financial Coordinator for the Solid Waste Management District for 19.5 years. After retirement the opportunity arose for me to run for the council. I was asked since I understood county government.
Safety and employment opportunities for our community. This is the purpose of government.
The western boundary of the IEC should not be expanded. I do want to keep the small town feel to New Carlisle. I supported the Tax Abatement rule change for an easier process. This would have helped economic opportunity for St. Joseph County. Unfortunately, it failed by the vote of 5-4.
I support Hope Rescue Mission and the Center for the Homeless. If a non-profit or the city of South Bend wants to operate another homeless center, that is their business. The county should not be involved with the funding. It should be located downtown South Bend.
There is more representation with nine members. With a larger population of St. Joseph County this is better government. It has always been the majority party of the Commissioners. It should stay like it is.
After I was caucus in, I visited every department within our county. Portage Manor was one of the first visits. I knew the financial person who was a former auditor. Mike gave me a tour. I was stunned at the condition of the building. The employees were great, but the building did not meet the needs of the residents. After the tour, Mike showed me plans for a new building. I was excited that they were going in that direction. However, when I asked him how this would be funded, he didn’t have an answer. It would have been a large tax increase for the people of our county. Since there were other companies that provided the service the residents needed, I felt the county, like most of the other counties, should not be doing this. I attended many meetings trying to find another solution. It has been my hardest vote.
I am 100% committed to hearing feedback. I read every email and take phone calls from our citizens. Yes, all government should follow the Indiana Public Access Counselor.
Occupation/Current Position
Teacher/6th Grade Science Teacher
Education
B.S. Elementary Education
Campaign Phone
574-229-3289
My diverse background equips me for effective county council service. With almost three decades of teaching and coaching experience in the Penn Harris Madison School District, I possess a broad knowledge base, highly refined organizational skills, and the ability to coach and be coached. As a sports photojournalist at Fox 28 Elkhart, I managed interviews, press conferences, and stories adeptly. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, I'm skilled in critical thinking. Entrepreneurial experience as Rudy’s Barn Wood owner refines my business acumen. Government roles in Penn Township Advisory Board and Grimes Ditch Association have provided me with insight into the workings of local government and prepared me to represent the interests of our community effectively on the county council.
If elected, my top priorities would revolve around enhancing road maintenance and ensuring fair compensation for county officers, both crucial for the well-being and efficiency of our community. Maintaining roads is essential for safety, aesthetics, and local businesses, while fair compensation is vital to retain skilled officers. I'll engage stakeholders to devise road maintenance strategies, push for additional funding, and seek innovative solutions. Additionally, I'll address fair compensation through surveys and discussions, striving for competitive packages and alternative perks. Together, we can elevate safety, convenience, and overall quality of life while valuing our hardworking county workforce.
It's great to see the interest in commercial growth near New Carlisle, especially after the EV battery plant announcement. Balancing job growth with preserving the town's rural character is key. Aligning new developments with community values and promoting smart growth can help. This includes partnerships for skills training, incentives for businesses in line with the community's vision, and involving residents in decision-making. With collaboration, we can support job opportunities while preserving the area's charm and quality of life.
While fiscal responsibility is crucial, it's vital to understand that addressing homelessness involves complex social issues. A new low-barrier homeless intake center in St. Joseph County could provide essential services like shelter, healthcare, and housing support to those in need; however, we must also be cognisant of the effect such a center will have on the surrounding community. We have seen the low-barrier facility at the Knights Inn have a devastating effect on its neighbors. We have to look for a solution and location that will provide structure for the homeless while having little to no consequences for the rest of the community.
I support retaining the existing method of electing a county council from 9 geographic districts rather than transitioning to 4 districts with 3 countywide representatives. This approach guarantees dedicated representation for every part of the county, enabling council members to address the unique needs of their respective areas effectively. Moreover, electing members from geographic districts fosters accountability and ensures that the concerns of local communities are prioritized in decision-making.
The county showed commendable diligence in handling the closure of Portage Manor, ensuring the well-being of individuals with disabilities and mental illness during the transition. However, I believe there's room for improvement. I would aim to advocate for greater transparency, collaboration, and proactive communication with stakeholders, including residents, families, and community groups if such a situation were to present itself again. Additionally, I would prioritize enhancing support systems and resources to ensure a smoother transition for affected individuals, meeting their needs with compassion. While the county's efforts were commendable, I would be committed to ongoing improvement for the best outcomes in similar situations.
I am committed to conducting public business transparently and ensuring that residents have ample opportunities to offer meaningful feedback before decisions are finalized. My advocacy for an open and inclusive decision-making process actively seeks input from constituents. I will use various channels like town hall meetings, community forums, and online platforms to engage with the community and gather diverse perspectives. In addition, I wholeheartedly pledge to adhere to Indiana's Public Access Counselor's guidance regarding open meetings and public records. Upholding these standards is crucial for maintaining transparency and accountability. My commitment is to ensure that my constituents feel assured that their voices are heard and valued and that they play an essential role in shaping positive outcomes for our community.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Occupation/Current Position
Farm educator
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Master’s in Systems Ecology, and a PhD in Environmental Science
Campaign Phone
5743441753
Candidate video
Owner & operator of Prairie Winds Nature Farm, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization since 2000. Grass fed sheep 15 years, grass fed cattle 10 years, kept bees & poultry 20 years. Currently direct our sustainable agriculture, environmental science, and horseback riding programs for adults and children. Keep the books, pay staff, and otherwise administrate the business; as well as teaching. Our programs provide educational field trips & classes for local schools; spring & summer day camps; and volunteer opportunities for college students. Include all income levels in our programs. Formal education included classes in policy, economics, planning, and business, in addition to science. Job experience included field studies, chemistry laboratory, statistical analysis of data, writing project reports, and policy work for 2 non-profits.
1. Stop the bleeding- restore financial accountability & investigate county expenditures/ solvency. Return control of tax dollars to elected representatives & citizen engagement. 2. Explore ways the county and cities/towns can work more efficiently together to provide appropriate location of jobs close to population centers, saving taxpayer spending on increased infrastructure. Incentives for affordable housing construction based on a teacher’s salary of $60k/year. I will be very interested in recommendations from the Housing Study. Our county quality of life: clean air & water, parks, green space, trails, community centers, etc. is at extreme risk at this time. Spend taxpayer $ more wisely on local product producing jobs. Focus on small to medium business that will return most profits to employees, not large out of state corporations.
We cannot allow moneyed interests to change our planning process to favor large outside interests who will receive the bulk of the profits from new business activity, and cause our county to use all its resources to lure those large companies here. Those resources currently include: infrastructure financed by taxpayer bonds, preparation of property to be “shovel ready”, extended tax abatements, possibly more. We need to value local returns from long term employment, instead of short term construction jobs & activity, and long term employment opportunities only for specially trained non-community members. We need to bring the County Comprehensive Plan update to Council in exact form to which broad citizen engagement contributed. Emphasize quality of life: active transportation, rural character, reduced sprawl of housing into farmland.
Our most vulnerable residents need a safe, well staffed place to live. Staff should be paid a good wage and all possible means of gaining community health support from federal sources should be used to achieve this. County dollars should be matching other financial opportunities.
Currently with 9 separate geographical areas, each part of our county is represented by someone who has to live in that area. That’s about as fair as you can get. If we reduced the number of districts, our rural communities would rarely, if ever, be able to get an At Large member elected, as those folks typically come from larger population centers. If a majority were elected from one larger population district, then those Council members could take directional control of all future actions of the Council.
A bipartisan and independent committee should be in charge of drawing district boundaries. No gerrymandering in our county!
Employees and volunteers were treated very poorly. Some had given their best years, at no or very low pay, in service to the most vulnerable of our county’s population. The county created the emergency by years of neglect of facilities maintenance and staff salaries. What I would do differently is not to neglect these important factors in the success of the enterprise.
I believe strongly in expanded transparency, citizen involvement, and education of officials and residents. We need dialogue between elected and appointed officials and Citizen groups & organizations such as for example the Juday Creek Task Force, Michiana Community Health Coalition, Community Foundation, Civil Rights Heritage Center, and Ecological Advisory Committee. Dedicated, engaged, and knowledgeable citizens should have more formal input and greater opportunity to help with local government & community issues. This could be accomplished by creation of committees who advise elected and appointed officials before they pursue courses of action so that conflicts can be identified and resolved. Guidance on open meetings and access to public records is welcome to allow scrutiny of development projects supported by county taxes.
