Occupation/Current Position
Digital Marketing Specialist
Education
B.A. Manchester College 1984, MBA Indiana Wesleyan University 1993
Campaign Email
ChrisDBowman@comcast.net
Campaign Phone
574-904-8854
I have lived in Centre Twp. for the past 33 years. My wife, Tami, and I raised our three children here while I also served the township in various roles. I initially served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT with Centre Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, and currently serve as an on-call firefighter for Centre (now a paid, professional department), and also help to maintain both the Township's and the Department's IT infrastructure and web presence.
I was fortunate to be elected to serve a four-year term (2019-2023) on the Centre Township Board and am seeking the opportunity to serve again to ensure residents receive the highest standard of fire protection/emergency medical service, as well as ready access to poor relief assistance when they need it.
I believe in improving access to poor relief assistance, and will work with the Trustee to create an online application process to help reduce the barriers to access caused by transportation issues or the client's inability to meet during regular office hours. While this won't eliminate visits to the Trustee's office, it can significantly reduce return visits and help speed up the application process.
Township government is in the crosshairs of the state legislature. The statewide push to consolidate some townships and eliminate others could have a serious impact on fire protection services. It is my goal to ensure that:
1) The Trustee and Board make quality, professional fire protection services a priority
2) Our firefighters are equipped and trained to face the challenges of their job both safely and professionally
3) They are competitively compensated to reduce turnover and create a consistent, dependable workforce
My background in business and communications - along with my practical understanding of what it means to work day-in and day-out as a Centre Twp. firefighter - will serve the township well. We face incredible challenges over the next few years as we chart the future of fire and EMS services.
Tough decisions are ahead, and we need Board members who are forward-thinking. We need to move beyond a "checking-the-box" approach to township governance. I plan to lead an effort to develop a multi-year plan for improving services for residents in need of poor relief, while charting a future for our fire department that ensures our firefighters have the tools, training, and facilities they need to provide the highest level of service possible.
I built the township's website during my first term on the Board. I will ensure that my contact information is on the website and will encourage everyone on the Board to do the same. I will also make sure that my contact information is accessible to anyone who reaches out to the Township office or the fire department.
Township boards play a significant role in charting the future of fire/EMS services, and their decisions can have a rippling effect on surrounding townships.
Current Indiana law allows for territories to pop into and out of existence based on politics, not on what's best for our residents or their tax dollars. The process of creating - and later dismantling - a fire territory impacts our ability to recruit/retain staff and to build the administrative infrastructure that ensures consistent quality service over the long run. Those are the hidden costs of fire territories.
We need to be open to creative ways to balance quality and cost. However, my first commitment will ALWAYS be to quality. Protecting life and property should never be done "on the cheap" and forming a fire territory should never be done "on the fly."
Transparency has been a longstanding issue in township governance. So that the Board could comply with changes in Indiana law regarding transparency, I created a YouTube channel to live stream Board meetings and save them for playback. Minutes, agendas, and other meeting materials are then made available on the township's website.
Finally, after public feedback, I very recently added an option on the township's website for the public to subscribe to automatic email notifications of upcoming Board meetings.
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Campaign Email
tjlboilers@aol.com
I have been chairman of the Centre Twp board since I first took office on January 1, 1995. As the years have gone by the issues have become more complicated and I think my experience is essential.
The Trustee must develop standards for the distribution of township assistance consistent with state guidelines. These standards are subject to board approval.
The biggest issue facing our township presently is budgeting for fire and EMS services subject to the state’s mandate to reduce property taxes which is the primary source of funding. Of particular concern is the potential loss of the county’s contract with South Bend for paramedic services. To address this, we are looking at alternatives for health insurance and other alternatives for paramedic services should the county ultimately terminate the contract with South Bend.
My years of experience developing budgets for Centre Township and the Southwest Central Fire Territory have become my strengths in addition to my education in Engineering and Business Administration
It has been my practice as Board Chairman to hold monthly public meeting to review budget performance and operational issues. These meetings typically have been held on the second Tuesday of each month. These meetings are advertised on the station marquee.
Board members must never forget that they are taxpayers too and must be judicious with their budgeting while working closely with the Trustee and the fire department personnel. They have to determine what would be nice to have versus what needs to be had.
With regard to transparency with the public and their involvement with township business, I think we are the only township board that holds monthly public meetings. The meeting notices are posted on the marquee along Kern Rd. Constituents that have concerns will seek us out. Most people don’t want to be bothered and therefor don’t show up.
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