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Education
Master's Degree in Public Management, Indiana University, 2016, Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Ball State University, 1990
Current Employment
State Advocacy Manager, Heritage Action, 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002
Political Experience
Multi-state lobbyist for Heritage Action, County Council member Dist. 3 (2021-present), Allen Co. Plan Commission Member (2022), District Director, Congressman Jim Banks, Regional Director, Senator Dan Coats, 2017 American Israel Education Foundation Israel Policy Trip, 2017 Graduate of Indiana Leadership Forum, Campaign Staff - Coats for Indiana 2010, Co-Founder of BizPac, Member of HBA Pac, Cedar Creek Township Advisory Board 1992-1994, Driver and Scheduler for Anne DeVore for State Auditor 1990
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/LagemannForCouncil
Campaign Phone
2602375455
I am running to reduce housing costs, improve public safety, and increase transparency in local government.
I partnered with trade associations, Councilman Nathan Hartman, and our county permitting team to review every permit and justify it. We have made dozens of small changes that are moving permits faster than ever before.
We have consolidated township fire departments, creating regional, 24/7 fire and EMS departments providing better response times than ever before. We will also continue to maintain federal compliance at the jail and ensure that our Sheriff has the tools to keep our deputies safe and crime down.
With new commissioners and a strong relationship between the council and the commissioners, transparency will improve.
SB1 does require counties and local units of government to be more responsible with taxpayer dollars. By ending the legally questionable policies of non-bid professional services contracts and opening up Allen County to more bidders, we can save at least $20 million annually. Our council has ensured that frivolous and irresponsible spending has been slowed dramatically, and we are building up reserves of over $100 million. SB1 is a means to stop pay-to-play in counties and municipalities; it will help our county and our communities, and I welcome the challenge.
The major difference between flat-rate income tax and property tax is the regressive nature of property taxes (taxing those who can least afford it), and the more neutral nature of flat-rate income taxes. The benefit of property taxes has been their consistency, unlike income taxes, which vary with the economy. A mix is critical. The massive increase in property taxes has resulted from real increases in property values as housing stock struggles to keep up with new residents. Balancing these two taxing methods is key. Less dependence on property taxes must also occur across all taxing districts. If schools, for instance, don’t lower property taxes as counties and municipalities do, taxpayers keep paying more. Legislation can fix this issue
Education
Purdue University B.S. Chemistry; The Ohio State University PhD Organic Chemistry
Current Employment
Fortune 500 Company
Political Experience
Trustee Perry Township 2019-26; Allen County Council At-Large 2018-19; Purdue- Fort Wayne 2013-20
Instagram
No thank you... "Known internally for years. Facebook researchers repeatedly found Instagram was harmful for a “sizable percentage” of teen girls."
1. To be of service.
2. To be a "Steady Hand".
3. To keep Washington DC-type politics out of local issues.
When local government functions well and keeps taxes affordable, it strengthens the community. Workers can afford to live here, employers can attract the talent they need, and investment follows. It creates a healthy cycle where good governance and economic growth reinforce one another.
On Council, I will be what Dr. John Crawford referred to as a "Steady Hand"— someone above the political fray that can vote their conscience day one on the job. With 5 generations of my family in the area, I am Here to STAY—and READY to get to work for all of us, not serve a political agenda from Indy or DC.
I am a former chemistry professor with 30 reports solving complex problems. Thus, as complex as a budget can be, I have the track record to handle budget issues— indeed, I have solved it at the Township level. For example, I was able to set the Perry Township Fund property tax to $0.00 for TWO consecutive years ('25&26) and, prior to that, a fire services avg. rate of ~$0.09 (with excellent response times!) My first day as Trustee I questioned why we had $millions in a zero-interest checking account. Now, interest from investments fund tax relief! I can deliver at the County level, too, by using smart allocation of assets, creative solutions- including leveraging AI, and a tenaciousness that allowed me to solve those 30 complex problems.
Setting income and property tax rates requires balancing the cost of essential services with the ability of residents and businesses to afford them. Important factors include the long‑term stability of housing, school funding*, and the County’s need to provide EMS. Housing affordability is a key indicator, too—when taxes remain low, families have extra $ to spend in local businesses— again a healthy cycle! In eight yrs as Trustee, I’ve shown that services and responsible taxation can coexist.
*School funding is not decided at the County level, but taxpayers' APPETITES for school referendums is absolutely connected to local income and property taxes. I point this out because I will consider schools as one of the factors when deciding rates.
