The commissioners are the custodians of the home rule powers of the county. Within the scope of home rule, commissioners may adopt and vest themselves with additional regulatory powers.The board of county commissioners as a body has a wide range of executive and administrative authority. Among the most important powers are those related to: Auditing and authorizing claims against the county. {IC 36-2-6-2} Receiving bids and authorizing contracts. Controlling, maintaining, and supervising county property including courthouses, jails, and public offices. {IC 36-2-2-24} Supervising construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. Exercising appointive powers including both the selection of members to fill positions on boards, commissions, and committees, and appointments of certain department heads. Planning and implementing strategies for solid waste handling as members of solid waste district boards. {IC 13-21-3-1} The county commissioners may adopt ordinances regulating behavior. Specifically, they have authority to pass ordinances in the following broad areas: To provide for traffic control. {IC 8-17- 1-40} To establish minimum housing standards. {IC 36-7-8-4} To grant vacation pay, sick leave, paid holidays and other similar benefits to county employees. {IC 5-10-6-1} Approving and fixing annual operating budgets of all county government offices and agencies. {IC 36-2-5-7} Establishing salaries, wages, per diems, and other compensation for all county officials and employees. {IC 36-2-5-3} Fixing tax rates and establishing levies on all county property for the purpose of raising funds to meet budget requirements in conducting county business [IC 36-2-5-11}, as well as authorizing the borrowing of money in the form of bonds and notes. {IC 36-2- 6-18} Appropriating public funds, i.e., authorizing the expenditure of county money by particular officials or departments for specific purposes. {IC 36-2-5-11 and IC 36-2-5-12} Authorizing certain purchases or sales of county owned land. {IC 36-1-11-3} Performing non-binding review of civil units’ budgets within the county and comparing growth rates of civil units with non-farm income growth. Review becomes binding on non-elected units when those units exceed statewide growth average. {6-1.1-17-20.5} Under IC 36-2-3-6, the county council may employ legal and administrative personnel necessary to perform its duties. (Generally see IC 36-2-3, for duties of the county council.)
Office for which you are a candidate
Delaware County Commissioner (District 1)
Incumbent?
No
Previously sought/Held offices
I have never run for elected office. I have held many board positions including appointed positions.
Experience and qualifications
35+ years of business experience. Almost two decades of public board service.
Community involvements
I have served on more than twenty boards. I volunteer my time in many areas. Attending public meetings is a regular event for me.
Education (degree/year/where)
Cowan Community Schools class of 1987
Occupation
Retired Automotive Executive
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy)
01021969
Place of Birth (City, State)
Muncie, Indiana
Family (Spouse/partner, number of children)
Four Children
I have spent the majority of my adult life volunteering on boards. Currently I serve as the President of the Muncie Sanitary District and the Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman. The next natural step in public service is elected office. I am running for the future of Delaware County, my children and my grandchildren. Setting County goals by department, establishing measurables and implementing accountability will be a top focus.
Make sure proper public input is gathered on all topics.
Improve the relationship between the county and other entities.
Publish all spending details and discuss them openly in the public meetings.
Focus on roads, bridges, drainage, and sewer projects.
Modernize economic development to focus on workforce development by increasing the number of people employed with increased wages.
For roads and bridges we need to focus on the worst first.
Stormwater drainage is a major concern as I listen to the citizens of Delaware County.
Roads and bridges are the face of any community and we are judged as such by visitors as well as those considering calling Delaware County their new home.
County wide broadband is a top priority and is in process by the state. As a full-time county commissioner, I wholeheartedly support this effort.
The details of all expenditures will be discussed openly in public meetings. Once approved, these claims will be posted to the county website. Just like we have done in the Muncie sanitary District.
All purchased services will be quoted competitively on a regular basis. Rather than simply renewing the same service year over year, we will create competition to improve quality and reduce cost.
When critical topics arise in the public is not present for comment, we will slow down the process. I would rather table a topic and allow the public more time to become aware.
I will not approve expenditures without substantiation.
Simply working on a budget year over year is not enough. We need a three-year budget and a 10 year plan.
Office for which you are a candidate
Delaware County Commissioner District 1
Incumbent?
no
Previously sought/Held offices
I ran for my local township board. Other than that, this is the first!
Experience and qualifications
I have worked for both the City and County for most of my adult life. I first started working in the Clerk's office. After that, I worked for nearly 7 years at Prairie Creek. Starting as a Secretary and promoted to Operations Manager. That is where I learned the importance of all groups of government working together.
Community involvements
I am on the Visit Muncie Inc Board. I always have had a servant heart. My role as the Director of Sales is always selling the City of Muncie and Delaware County.
Education (degree/year/where)
High School Diploma. I was a young mother, which taught me so much! I did not have the financial resources to attend college until I had my son. I started an Accounting degree at Ivy Tech. I did end my classes once my son was old enough to attend sports and activities. I was a single mother and did not want to cheat my son those experiences.
Occupation
Director of Sales
Campaign Phone (Include area code)
765-748-8443
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy)
092585
Place of Birth (City, State)
Muncie IN
Family (Spouse/partner, number of children)
Spouse- Donnie Wright, 1 bio child, 2 step children
First of all, I love Delaware County! I see too often that the City and County Governments working against each other. I pride myself in getting along with nearly anyone! I enjoy the challenge of trying to find a great compromise when a disagreement arrises. I know my heart is in the right place. I care about my neighbors. I believe the County is on the right track, but there are issues that are holding us back! Addiction and Mental health issues are one of our biggest issues. The city and county could work together to create a plan to tackle these issues. I believe after working with the City of Muncie, I can help facilitate that working relationship!
To begin, I'd like to see what part of our EDIT funds have already been promised in the future. Unfortunately, that could tie anyone hands on any improvements they want to make. I would like to get an overall grasp on what Delaware county and the City have planned on with the Mental Health/Addiction Crisis. As Always, continuing to develop relationships with companies that want to expand into our state is a must! I want to also make sure our county workers have a safe and healthy relationship to work in. I feel they do deserve better pay and more support from the Commissioners office!
I believe making sure we have open, regular community meetings for our residents to ask questions. Maybe something similar to the "Dream with dan" that the city does. I think making sure things are posted on social media and live streamed, brings transparency. It allows for correct information to be put out to the masses. As for renewable resources(solar, wind turbines) I am always excited to see these options. I think each situation is different. Each location proposed needs to be looked at extensively for the pro and cons. As a country, we do need to look at other options than fossil fuels.
Universal internet access is incredibly important! It would be near the top of my priority list!
As I stated before, I want to do more live streamed Q & A's. It is hard to find information on what our county is up to!
