The County Commissioner race in St. Joseph County decides who will sit on the county’s three‑member executive board. Commissioners oversee daily operations of county government, including infrastructure, public works, budgeting, economic development, and county policy. Each commissioner represents a specific district but is elected countywide. The race typically focuses on issues like road maintenance, zoning, economic growth, public safety funding, and management of county services.
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Occupation/Current Position
Police Officer/Sheriff
Education
Graduate of Riley High School / Attended Bethel College / Graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy 95-120 / Graduate of the FBI LEEDS Academy #79
Campaign Phone
5742922774
Candidate video
Campaign Email
Bill@redmanforcommissioner.com
Public safety is vital to the wellbeing of our community. My 32 years as a police officer and Sheriff will provide our county leadership with the guidance to continue to put our community first. As commissioner, I will continue to support and invest in our police departments and expand our fire departments and emergency management services. When our residents feel safe, our community becomes stronger.
Another top priority must be improving the conditions of our streets and roads. Functional streets are essential to daily life and in northern Indiana, we know how critical timely snow removal is. Poor road conditions impact emergency response times, school transportation, and the ability for people to get to and from work.
Our dedicated county highway employees need additional staffing and updated equipment and technology.
Large developments wanting to do business in our county, such as data centers, should be required to provide our county with what the short-term and long-term benefits will be to our community and should not be allowed to pass the costs for their production onto our taxpayers.
Economically, they must provide the county with exactly how many permanent jobs and construction jobs will be utilized, will local purchasing be conducted, and what precise tax base growth will result from this development. Regarding infrastructure concerns, we must have transparency and detailed plan and analysis of all electric usage, water usage, new roads needed for the facility, traffic studies, and certainly emergency services and responses for those areas,
Lastly, the community’s concerns must be publicly and transparently addressed.
Currently, the most significant challenge regarding infrastructure and traffic issues is located on State Road 2, U.S. 20, and all the county roads in the New Carlisle area. A lack of preparation and a traffic study prior to construction and accompanying 4,000 workers resulted in major traffic issues and concerns for residents and law enforcement in that area. I am glad to hear that a traffic study is being conducted around the Microsoft development in Granger, they must play a part in any growth and infrastructure decisions the county makes.
My familiarity with the current role of public transportation within the county government is limited, but I am willing to engage in discussions on the matter. Many individuals rely on public transportation, and while I am unclear about the extent of its reach within the county jurisdiction, I would be open to exploring funding and cost considerations, as well as addressing community needs and concerns associated with this issue. This is one of a few topics that I admit I would need to educate myself, listen to the community and those doing the work, to make the informed and educated decision that is best for our residents.
As the County Council serves as the fiscal body of our county government, I am committed to ensuring that responsible budgeting practices are employed and taxpayer funds are utilized appropriately as Commissioner.
As Sheriff I oversaw an annual budget exceeding $30 million for the county police department and the jail, I fully understand the significance of allocating funds responsibly.
I believe that we need to do a better job in county government of informing and educating the public about the projects county government officials are working on, such as infrastructure and economic development projects. Without that public information accountability and transparency cannot truly exist.
Additionally, as elected officials we serve the public, and public input is extremely crucial in making decisions about projects and decisions that affect everyone.
Lastly, political games can play no role in serving our residents. If elected Commissioner, I will continue being actively involved in the community, just as I have been as Sheriff. I strongly believe it has been one of the keys to my success, rolling up my sleeves and meeting our residents out and about wherever they are in our community.
