Brown County Commissioner District 3
Commissioners are elected for four year terms on a staggered basis. The Board of Commissioners consists of three elected officials who must reside in separate districts but are elected by the voters of the county as a whole. Commissioner Districts must be redrawn at least once every 10 years.The Board of Commissioners is the executive of the county and shares legislative powers with the County Council. It enacts ordinances and administers all county business. Powers and authorities include but are not limited to:· Controlling, maintaining and supervising county owned property including the Courthouse, jail and offices; auditing county books· Establishing township boundaries· Supervising construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges· Developing and administering personnel policies for county employees· Establishing precincts, providing polling places and election equipment, administering elections in conjunction with County Election Board· Establishing minimum housing standards, building regulations, fire prevention ordinances, contracting ambulance services; regulating food establishments, assisting community mental health centers, assisting public transportation facilities, carrying out poor relief duties· Selecting and appointing members to fill positions on boards, commissions, committees and appointing certain department heads· Establishing parks and recreation facilities, war memorials, historical markers, maintaining county forests· Establishing solid-waste districts and serving on the district boards which are responsible for 20 year plans for disposal, recovery and reduction of solid waste
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Justin P. Schwenk
(Dem)
1. What role, if any, does working with the Town of Nashville play in County Commissioner responsibilities? Please explain.
2. Please explain what, if anything, the County Commissioners can do to facilitate public input into important County decisions.
3. What do you view as the biggest financial challenge(s) for Brown County this year and for the next five years, and how might you address these challenges?
4. What actions, if any, would you take to address the need for affordable housing?
Campaign Phone
8128785759
Education Background
BS Social Studies Education; Indiana State University MA History; University of Indianapolis
Occupation
Dual Credit Government & US History Teacher
The partnership between Brown County and the Town of Nashville is absolutely critical for the long-term sustainability of our community. It is a symbiotic relationship that can not exist without one another. Municipal and county governments have complex roles and relationships, but we must foster an environment of collaboration if we want to achieve the growth that our community needs. As a Commissioner, I would actively seek out opportunities to partner with the town and innovate ways to drive economic sustainability and growth. In order to continue to move forward, any commissioner candidate should possess the important competency of driving innovation through partnerships.
A government that excludes the voice of its constituents limits the collective power of the community to find solutions. Multiple innovations can easily be adopted to make county decision-making more accessible to drive engagement & input. Good leaders welcome input, not hide from it. What is required are leaders who can integrate & advocate for new outreach methods. It is critical that your Commissioner not only listens but ensures that you are empowered to participate in the process. Passively making yourself available to people or engaging on social media is insufficient today. Actively seeking out public opinion, embracing innovative technologies, & ensuring that meetings are transparent & held at accessible times are my priorities.
Our community is in a moment of economic change. As our population continues to decline, we must find ways to provide community services with ever-dwindling resources. This is an unsustainable situation & addressing it will take a new vision. While tourism, the arts, & service industries have been and will continue to make up a core industry in our community, we must diversify our economy & attract a new generation of residents equipped to harness 21st-century entrepreneurial skills to create low-impact, high-reward jobs. As Commissioner, I would prioritize attracting entrepreneurs inspired by our natural environment and able to create small businesses that rejuvenate our tax base and set our county on a firm financial future.
Attainably priced homes that would attract new, younger residents to our county is easily one of the most critical challenges to the long-term sustainability of Brown County. Confronting this challenge has been a priority of mine for years, since my time as President of the county RDC. I led the development of plans that can stimulate our local economy, create jobs, & create affordable housing. These plans exist & it only requires the leadership our community deserves to implement. Had those plans not been ignored by current county leaders, we would already be years ahead of our current situation. The creation of attainably priced homes is both popular & badly needed. As Commissioner, this would be among my highest priorities.
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