Biographical Information
Occupation/Current Position
St. Joseph County Councilman
Candidate video
What experiences and skills qualify you to be a good commissioner? Please be specific.
I have been involved in and have essential knowledge of the workings of County
government, having served on the County Council for over 30 years, and 20 years as
President of the Council. This work has exposed me to the financial aspects of
providing police protection, secure and safe roads, health services, and many other
services to the residents of the County. Besides my experience in government, I have
spent a lifetime in a career in which communication is key. My approach in life is to treat
everyone with respect, listen, get input, and ultimately make a decision based on what
is best for our community, and I fervently believe this can be done without damaging
relationships with colleagues with whom I will need to cooperate with going forward.
What are your top two priorities as Commissioner if elected? Why these?
Because the top priority is to serve the people, my priorities must serve the priorities of
our constituents. Having lived in this community for more than 60 years, it is clear to me
that our families care about raising their children in a safe environment. So, we have to
be supportive of our police, prosecutors and courts, as they deal with issues of crime,
including the proper handling of those having need of mental health services.
It is also clear to me that the public is concerned about having access to jobs which can
support raising a family. This means that we should support infrastructure
improvements and responsible development which brings those jobs to our area.
In both cases, our taxpayers need to see and know that we are not wasting tax dollars
as we respond to these priorities.
After the EV battery plant was announced last year, more companies showed interest in commercial development near New Carlisle. How should the county weigh potential job growth versus some residents’ concerns for preserving their small town and its rural character? What specific actions do you propose to promote and retain good jobs there and elsewhere in St. Joseph County?
Our analysis should be guided by sound principles which are relevant to our current and future needs, and not limited by the past. This means we need an updated and flexible
comprehensive plan, but our analysis should also include scientific, sociological, and
environmental data, as well as input from the public. This means we consider the impact of projects on our water supply, as well as traffic patterns. It means we consider how neighborhoods will be impacted and whether our schools will be affected and whether our ability to provide services is stretched beyond capacity or not. It also means looking at whether we are hurting our environment with pollution. In order to promote and retain jobs, we need to create the conditions which make that possible.
Do you support a new low-barrier homeless intake center in St. Joseph County? If not, why not? If so, what role, if any, should the county play in funding the new center and where should it be?
I support the idea of having a low-barrier homeless intake center, but it is extremely
important to know the details of what that entails before committing to a specific center
and site. Where the center should be located is a function of knowing the details.
Knowing who will be housed there, for example, limits where it can be. Is low-barrier
meant to be short-term or does it mean, ultimately, another long-term homeless center?
That impacts the funding decision. What rules will be in place? Who is responsible for
accounting for money? Again, answers to these questions play a major part in making
such a center a reality. If all questions can satisfactorily be answered, then the County
should consider financial support for such a center.
Do you support the current model of electing county commissioners from geographic districts or should commissioners be elected countywide as they are in 89 of 92 counties? If you advocate keeping districts, who should draw the district boundaries?
Given the current demographics, there are strong arguments for keeping the districts.
In a county that is no longer controlled by a single party, the current districting allows for
participation by both parties in executive leadership; it also prevents a single area of the
county from dominating control of the Board of Commissioners. Districts, however,
should ultimately be drawn by a non-partisan, independent committee, and not by
elected officials.
How well did the county do in evaluating and handling the closure of Portage Manor as the county home for people with disabilities and mental illness? Is there anything you would do differently today?
The county was caught between a rock and hard place because the State Legislature
did not correct the funding formula for residential centers like Portage Manor. Faced
with ever increasing costs, demanding regulatory requirements, staffing shortages, and
knowledge that we could not continue to meet the needs of the Portage Manor residents
under those conditions, a difficult choice had to be made. I voted to keep Portage
Manor open, but the majority did not. I think better education and awareness of how
important Portage Manor was to our community, and better lobbying of State legislators
on both sides of the aisle could have made a difference.
How committed are you to conducting the public’s business transparently so residents can offer meaningful feedback before decisions are made? How will you solicit resident feedback, and do you commit to follow guidance from Indiana’s Public Access Counselor on open meetings and public records?
I am 100% committed to transparency and obtaining public input. Having grown up in
the community, I have plenty of friends and acquaintances who are not shy about giving
me their opinion. I am accessible and willing to listen to anyone’s input. My long tenure
as Council President is proof of this.
Spring 2024 Candidate Video: