Occupation/Background
Project Manager with Porter County Department of Development & Storm Water Management
Campaign phone
(219)575-8025
I am compassionate, professional, and resourceful! I've worked in local government for ten years now. I've owned businesses and managed people and budgets. My past work history includes working as the Executive Assistant for La Porte County CASA Program, recruiting & training volunteers while advocating for children in need. I also worked as the Community Relations Coordinator for IU Health La Porte Hospital, where I worked with the Healthcare Foundation to provide healthcare screenings & education either free or at a reduced fee to thousands of local residents. I am a volunteer, a mother, and a grandmother who will go the extra mile, every time, for someone in need. I've chosen to run for the Center Township Trustee because township government is the closest level of government to the people. I will listen to your concerns, find solutions, and work with you to keep Center Township in La Porte County a safe and welcoming place to live.
The greatest challenge facing our township is being phased out by State government policies & decisions. If townships lose their ability to advocate for their people, I'm afraid our local needs and voices will be neglected. La Porte has a small-town charm with character all its own. Our local issues require custom-fit solutions, not a one-size-fits-all approach. What may work in Indianapolis or even southern Indiana may work for them, but not necessarily for us. Affordability is an issue everywhere you look! The Center Township Trustee's budget is not growing with inflation, which means we need to take a look at where and how we are spending those dollars. A changing environment demands change. I believe a fresh perspective in this role is exactly what Center Township needs to thrive.
One of the first steps I will take to improve services in Center Township will be to investigate where & how we are spending our money. It's proven that collaborating with existing programs expands services available and helps more people. These partners are established with their own expert staff, volunteers, programs, & funding sources. I'll work to expand mental health services that are often at the very core of homelessness & addiction. Next, the Center Township Fire Department has an amazing volunteer force with proven rapid response times and outcomes. I will meet with the firefighters often to discuss & listen to their needs to ensure they are safe & set up for success when emergency calls. As a 10-year-old, I watched in the freezing snow as my house burned. I've been there. It's terrifying. When our cat was pulled from the house, I remember how the fireman made me feel. I pledge to do all I can to ensure our volunteers are prepared & able to deliver great outcomes to families.
The current program appears to be meeting our needs, but I can't verify that. I've reviewed past meetings looking for statistics on how many people have applied for services and, in turn, how many were served, but I can't find anything on the Center Township Trustee's website. As Trustee, I will put TRANSPARENCY into practice. No more chasing information on Gateway or the State Board of Accounts sites! Financial reports, budgets, monthly meeting minutes, agendas, and more will be accessible on the Trustee's website. Local town hall meetings will have proper notification so the community has a chance to voice their concerns. Financial hardships can happen to any one of us. I will provide compassionate service to those in need and manage each case individually to ensure that immediate needs are met and better equip those served with the tools to succeed on their own. I will continue to offer the GED classes for Center Township residents & explore other opportunities to help more people.
Center Township lacks mental health services. As I said previously, a lack of these services contributes to homelessness and housing instability. Without support networks or case management, individuals with psychological distress are at a much higher risk of losing housing. I've recently met with community agencies and explored a partnership that will extend case management and support groups to our community. Addressing mental health will also improve personal health outcomes. Unmonitored physical health issues & untreated conditions like depression and anxiety can escalate & lead to chronic suffering. Center Township deserves a straightforward, accessible path to temporary emergency assistance. They should expect a leader to manage issues of food & housing insecurity, recovery assistance from recent storms, and more. I offer a fresh perspective on the work that needs to be done, and will work hard to ensure the budget is managed efficiently to stretch dollars & serve our community.
Occupation/Background
I have been trustee for the last 12 years and before that I was a school bus driver for La Porte Community School Corporation
I have been in this office for the last 12 years, bringing more programs and assistance to the community. Working with other agencies to make sure that each person needing assistance is being helped with rent, NIPSCO, or water bills, and so much more.
Right now, it is the funding we will lose with the passage of SB1. Many of our tax dollars will be reduced, and we will need to figure out where to cut the budget. We are working with as many agencies as we can to help those in need. We are also explaining to our clients how important it is to budget so that they are able to pay their bills and not need as much assistance from the government.
I feel that we have great services for our township, and our volunteer fire department is recruiting new members. We hope to add an additional 3 young men in the next couple of months.
Yes and no. I feel that we meet them when they walk in the door, but I hear such sad stories of those in need who feel they are over income or someone else needs the services more. I wish that they would come in for our assistance sooner and let us help them. Also, if people wouldn't wait until they are shut off or the bill gets too high. We can only help with so much, and we can work with other agencies.
I feel that it is necessary for La Porte County, as we have 21 townships. That is too many! We have a few that do not do any poor relief and only write a check to a fire department for their contract. They are paid a salary, along with 3 board members, to write 3-6 checks a month for what? Townships were started to help those in need and to provide fire protection. If neither is being done, they should merge to save on taxpayer dollars. I also feel that some of the smaller townships do not offer services to those in need and are not there to answer the phone during the day when clients are in need.
