Office for which you are a candidate
County Council At Large
Previously sought/Held offices
Elected to County Council 2004 & 2008. Candidate for Congress 2012
Experience and qualifications
Lifelong resident of Delaware County actively working with local governments on development and job creation projects.
Community involvements
Four years served on the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission. Eight years served on the Sheriff's Merit Board. Three years on the Burris Parent Teacher Association Board.
Education (degree/year/where)
Ball State University, BS Political Science & Criminal Justice 1995. Bowen Center for Public Participation 1995. Harvard Kennedy School of Government Summer School/Political Philosophy & International Relations 1994. National Association of Homebuilders Certified Master Builder 2000.
Occupation
Director of Economic Affairs, Augusta Consulting, LLC.
Campaign Phone (Include area code)
7658081484
Place of Birth (City, State)
Muncie, Indiana
Family (Spouse/partner, number of children)
Married to my wife Lisa for thirty years. Three sons and two grandsons.
My priorities are simple: Properly fund road paving and emergency services. Continue to grow our tax base- so as to keep taxes low for all. Treat everyone with respect, compassion and dignity.
Knowing what companies have active abatements, understanding what the abatements are for as well as the status of the abatements- is the first step in holding companies accountable for promises not kept. I’ve compiled a list of current abatements granted by the Delaware County Council. In any event of non-compliance, I would recommend revocation of the abatement.
Funding road paving, emergency services, county departments as well as the upkeep of community amenities should be a top priority for the council. I have worked for over a decade on bringing new developments to replace the assessed value lost with the demolition of Borg-Warner, Chevrolet Muncie, Delco Battery, Indiana Steel & Wire and others. In the last eight years the county’s net assessed value has gone up over $987 million (per Baker Tilly analysis). Due to rules in place by the state legislature, our county only captures 4% of this growth on an annual basis. This cap hampers our ability to provide services. Conservative budgeting and being mindful of wasteful spending is the only way to overcome this challenge.
The council should not be a stage by which members are allowed to mock or insult other races, genders or religions. Seeing through to ensuring the public is protected from this behavior is one of the reasons I decided to run for this office. Frankly, in my current position working to attract new investment I've witnessed our community being embarrassed on a national stage by one council persons actions and disrespect. I promise to bring compassion, civility and respect to the board and in everything I do.
The council has the ability when approving funding, purchases or incentives to recommend or require that green initiatives are taken into consideration. This consideration is largely project specific such as ensuring vehicles purchased are fuel efficient. However, the council must be mindful that the cost to procure the efficiency does not outweigh the projected longterm savings to the tax payers.
In the age of social media, it is important to continue with all meetings being video recorded, broadcast and made available for later viewing. Furthermore, public encouragement of local news agencies to again start attending meetings and recapping the activities of the council is critical to helping our citizens be aware of happenings.
In practice it sounds appropriate to have one entity handling everything however, the practicality of this arrangement does not best serve the directive of the officials in charge of each organization. It is undeniable that when one group was handling economic development for all three entities the six towns of the county were largely ignored. Furthermore the lack of competitiveness and accountability created a legacy position that resulted in very few projects being announced. Of the projects that were announced, seven of them failed costing local tax payers millions. With assessed value up over $987 million in the last eight years, Delaware County has experienced more announcements and growth under the multi-arm system than ever before.
When a community stops planning for its growth, it starts planning for its decline. If history has taught Delaware County one thing, it is that we cannot rely on one entity or business to be around forever. As the world and industries change, we must adapt and accept that we need to learn new skills. We must replace companies lost with new ones. We must rebuild roads and infrastructure that are in disrepair. We must maintain our schools and emergency services. We must provide opportunities for the next generation. To do this, we must continue to grow our tax base. If not, inflation will lead to tax increases that outpace the growth of our incomes.
Office for which you are a candidate
Delaware County Council - At Large
Incumbent?
No
Previously sought/Held offices
Delaware County Council Dist 2 sought in 2022
Experience and qualifications
Prior to opening my business in 2021 I was a field sales executive with the Estée Lauder Companies (a multi billion dollar international company), managing a 5 state territory, overseeing 10 brands in over half a dozen retailers, with a team of approximately 250 under my leadership. That leadership entailed not only planning and executing large scale budgets and goals but also working as a partner in those budgetary plans to the retailers as our budgets, goals and employees were shared by the brands and the retailers. I believe that relationships build communication and trust and that is exactly how I built my team in that role and how I plan to address my role on council.
Community involvements
Delaware County Council appointed member of the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission. In Place Impact Muncie student and supporter. Small business cheerleader. F45 member
Education (degree/year/where)
Wapahani High School - 2006 academic honors, 1 year at BSU and 2 years at Indiana University East
Occupation
Small Business Owner
Campaign Phone (Include area code)
7657179300
Place of Birth (City, State)
Muncie, IN
Family (Spouse/partner, number of children)
Married to Chris Greene mother to Gabe, Lincoln and Loralei
Communication, communication, communication! Working to open lines of communication among county department heads and elected officials, county and city leaders and community members.
When we work together we achieve the best results and gaining input and expertise from multiple avenues will help to guide us as a council in using tax dollars in the most efficient capacity.
Firstly we need a clear tax abatement application process so companies are aware of expectations when they apply, not after. Furthermore when need to be meeting with these companies on a regular basis through the tax abatement committee to follow up on their work within the county and if expectations and qualifications are not being met next steps will be discussed.
The county is not spending efficiently. We may not have the most money in the state by any means but we are not running as a household would. Common sense spending and innovative processes can open us up to far more opportunity.
The council currently looks at requests for expenditure from a “numbers” basis, as it should be. It is the councils job to allocate funds in a way that best places Delaware county on a positive trajectory. Keeping personal information out of requests and budgets allows the necessity of keeping emotion out of allocations. As an at large councilwoman I fully understand I represent ALL members of Delaware County and all constituents will be met with kindness and respect from me. I pride myself on my ability to work with anyone and that will not change when elected.
Green initiatives should be reviewed on a case by case basis and always include input of those in the county, region or neighborhoods that will be affected the most. If it is determined that the proposed project is of benefit to those areas and the county as a whole then we can proceed accordingly.
Currently, agendas and minutes are not posted anywhere other than the county website. I would work to ensure that agendas, minutes and related packets be posted to social media and shared consistently. The minimum posting requirements of a newspaper announcement and a door flyer at the county building are antiquated at best. We need to be aiming for the ceiling, not the floor when it comes to transparency. I cannot speak for the council as a whole but I for one will post any relevant information and be open to meetings or phone calls to review any information presented to me.
I appreciate having these 3 “arms” but I would encourage and initiate more consistent and better communication amongst the three. Multiple arms covering the same issues multiple times is not the best use of resources. Delegating and working together is the best plan of success for economic development.
Expansive planning does not need to be stopped to begin planning to work with what we currently have. Highlighting and championing our current assets and resources will best create an environment to attract new growth. Both needs to be happening constantly for best results in growing what we currently have and attracting new.
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Office for which you are a candidate
Delaware County Council, At-Large
Incumbent?
No
Previously sought/Held offices
None
Experience and qualifications
I am a retired International Educator--meaning I developed academic programs to send American university students to study abroad and to recruit international students to study in the US with the goal of promoting international understanding. I developed dual-degree programs and exchanges. My duties included developing and implementing multimillion dollar budgets taking into account possible fluctuations in currency exchange rates. I have traveled to 6 of the 7 continents and lived and worked in 8 different states in the US. I lived, worked, and studied in Japan for 5 years and I speak Japanese.
Community involvements
I have been involved in all the communities in which I have lived. I have been a member of Rotary International. I attend the Unitarian Universalist Church. I am a member of the Riverside-Normal City Neighborhood Association and Muncie Resists. I volunteered in the Delaware County Democratic Headquarters for two days a week all last year and I have worked the election polls during the last 3 elections. I have been attending County Council and Tourism Commission meetings. At Ball State, I attend weekly international student presentations at the Rinker Center. I go once a semester to the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse and Owsley Museum of Art. I am often seen riding my bike on the Greenway.
Education (degree/year/where)
International Christian University: Rotary Scholar, International and Intercultural Communication 1991 - 1993; Ball State University: Master of Science (MS), Cultural Anthropology, TESOL, Higher Education Administration, 19901990; Ball State University: Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Philosophy & Psychology,1979 - 1983
Occupation
I'm a retired International Educator who plays ukulele and gardens
Campaign Phone (Include area code)
7652733149
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy)
110960
Place of Birth (City, State)
Muncie, IN
Family (Spouse/partner, number of children)
I am a divorced father with two sons.
* Improved infrastructure
* Local labor on local projects
* Cottage-industry development
* Excellence in schools and libraries
* Promoting alternative crops and farming techniques
* Increasing tourism and recreational opportunities
* Increasing home ownership through land banks and trusts
* Ending hate speech in local politics
While attending a County Council meeting, Councilman Hughes when discussing a possible tax abatement stated, "There are no guidelines for tax abatement."
The first step in holding companies accountable would be to establish clear guidelines for eligibility, applying, and receiving an abatement. The guidelines would include the actions the County would take if companies who receive an abatements do not do what is stated in their application to receive the abatement.
This would include monitoring the promises made in the application for abatement for the number of local people to hired.
The County awards abatements in good faith. If companies do not live up to their promises, the abatements should be removed and penalties assessed.
There will be significant overtime for first responders who dealt with the tornado in Selma and the eclipse traffic and crowds. County employees are grossly underpaid and this needs to be addressed if we are to attract and retain quality personnel. County buildings have been neglected and are in need of repair. Schools have been using COVID relief monies to fill budget shortfalls and these funds are being phased out. There are ghost employees who have accumulated so much vacation and leave time they no longer report to work but the County is not able to rehire the position. What to do? Grants? State and Federal programs? Increase taxes? Increase the number of residents and jobs? Tighten our belts?
In the document, which was written in 2020, the Commissioners encourage governmental units to commit to removing situations which foster division. Given the dehumanizing behavior of a sitting Councilman directed toward the transgender community and the failure of all other sitting Councilmen to condemn said behavior or to come to the assistance of the person be abused, current Council is promoting division. The resolution is appropriate but has no teeth for enforcement. Inappropriate behavior of an elected official should not be tolerated. I have not been able to find censure rules and rules for removal of a sitting Councilman for gross abuse of power.
I do support green energy and sustainability. Solar arrays should be built on existing brown fields. Raised arrays should be built in parking lots and, yes, in cemeteries. New buildings of a certain size should be required to have solar or green roofs. County farmers are concerned with the loss of good land--Solar infrastructure can be leveraged with crops that do well in partial shade. Raised solar panels enable farming and husbandry to continue within the array. Bifacial solar technology allows the panels to double as fencing. Studies show improved yields, erosion prevention, and water conservation on agrivoltaic farms. Future county vehicle purchases should all be electric.
With the decline of the free press, it is important for elected officials to be proactively open with the public. We need a vibrant newspaper with teams of reporters! A team of independent citizen reporters and a shared outlet for information distribution needs to be developed. It is difficult to find information on the County 's website--agendas, how to stream meetings, vote results, minutes of meetings. I would begin by restructuring the website to make information more easily accessible and timely. I would post pertinent information on my social media sites--links to online portals and databases, open budgets, public disclosures, and timely updates.
If there are duplicate services, consolidation should occur to save resources and to provide a clear voice to prospective development opportunities. However, the goals for economic development in downtown Muncie and economic development in the surrounding communities are different and if there is only one "arm", the arm needs to be knowledgeable of the different development needs around the County.
We have already reached the point. The community needs to buy local. I am working to develop point-of-sale kiosks to promote the sale of local foodstuff, handicrafts, and services. The 3 "arms" need to work collaboratively to attract 100 businesses that employ 20 people each. Muncie and the County need to work together to leverage Prairie Creek, the Fairgrounds, and the Greenway. The towns and communities outside Muncie need to be included in tourism and promotion materials. Muncie is a destination; but so is Selma, Albany, Yorktown, Daleville, Gaston and Eaton. Delaware County is not going to be able to attract a major employer with decaying infrastructure and lackluster schools. It is time to regroup and build on what is working.
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