The May 4 primary is rapidly approaching and the Huntington TEA Party sponsored a local political candidate introduction and debate Friday evening to encourage informed voting this year.
Debate Moderator Jeff Berggren referred to the event as a “60-mile-per-hour sprint” as 22 candidates representing 10 local offices shared their views and answered both pre-planned and audience-submitted questions.
Each candidate with one or more opponents had one minute to make an opening statement, one minute to answer each question and one minute to give closing statement. Those who are running unopposed or whose challengers were unable to attend the TEA Party debate had three minutes to explain why they deserved the public’s vote.
County Assessor candidates Don Schoeff, Joanie Stoffel and Incumbent Terry Boone kicked off the debate with Boone touting her 30 years in the Assessor’s Office, Schoeff his experience in various political offices and background in real estate appraising and Stoffel her four terms as the Huntington Township Assessor.
Boone explained her vision for the office was to efficiently complete the upcoming 2012 assessment – something she said only someone with experience could do in a timely manner.
“I’m getting ready to go door-to-door,” she said. “We need qualified leaders to navigate this assessment.”
Schoeff said he believes it’s very important that the Assessor’s Office do as much in-house work as possible instead of the assistance of outside contractors.
“(We need to) reduce the number of errors being done in the Assessor’s Office,” he said. “Every time we have an error we have to reduce funds. We need to make sure we have better quality assessments and make sure it’s all fair and equitable.”
If elected, Stoffel said her focus will be to keep up with all appeals and state and federal mandates and make sure all paperwork is completed in a timely manner.
“If you don’t (keep up) your tax statements come late and the county and the city are getting all of their funding late and that includes schools,” she explained.
Candidates for County Auditor Cindy Yeiter and Incumbent Kathy Juillerat spoke next, with each emphasizing the value of their experience working in local government. Yeiter said she has spent 15 years in the County Treasurer’s Office, which works closely with the Auditor’s Office. Juillerat, who will complete her first term this year, also spent 14 years working as the clerk-treasurer in the Town of Andrews.
Juillerat said her goals is to keep the office working efficiently.
“Last year we had a deadline of seven days or property taxes (bills) would not get out on time,” Juillerat said, explaining her office staff worked through the Thanksgiving holiday to complete the normally 30-day task so property tax bills would go out on time and the county budget could be approved in a timely manner. “Huntington County will face crucial issues in the coming year with revenue shortfalls and budget cuts. My experience is vital in dealing with these upcoming issues.”
Yeiter emphasized the importance of honing communication skills in the Auditor’s Office.
“When (County Council’s required) seven percent budget cut came, they were questioning what was going on. I feel like communication is very important,” she said. “Truthfulness, trustworthiness, active listening, personal best … these are traits that everyone should follow – especially politicians.”
Incumbent Jerry Helvie, current Coroner Leon Hurlburt and Carl Zinsmeister have thrown their hats in the ring for the office of County Commissioner District 1.
Helvie, a life-long Huntington resident and the Bippus Fire Chief, explained he was recently re-elected president of the Northeast District of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners by his peers.
“I have served the community for eight years and finished up my second term as commissioner,” he said, explaining this and his experience on the Plan Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Drainage Board and the CEDIT Advisory Board have given him the expertise to navigate through the challenges of the next four years.
Hurlburt, who has a Bachelor’s degree in business finance, said he believes strong financial and business principles should be applied to county government.
“We need to bring basic business principles to government. If we can do that I think we’ll be able to go in the right direction. The business side of what I bring will be very important,” he said. “It’s easy to cut things. The hard thing is making the plans of where we’re going to project in the future. The only way we will survive is if we all work as a group.”
Zinsmeister said working through the ranks at General Electric and also running a family farm has given him the experience necessary to hold a Commissioners seat. But now that he is retired, he has the time to invest in the county.
“We need to examine quotes and estimates … we must do our best to ensure we focus on the most beneficial projects based on need,” he said. “Department heads must optimize employees training and talents and minimize the use of extra labor.”
The commissioner candidates differed widely on the issue of how CEDIT (County Economic Development Income Tax dollars should be spent for economic development.
Helvie said although the Commissioners formerly didn’t have access to CEDIT funds, now that it is legal, he believes they are doing a great job funding various economic development projects.
“We have a thing called a way of life. We put the money out there … (People) are brining jobs,” he said, explaining people won’t move to the county unless a certain standard of living is in place. “They want to know about our schools, our parks, our highways. Just because we use CEDIT dollars on a project, doesn’t mean it went unearned.”
Hurlburt believes in this time of economic crisis, it’s important to focus specifically on bringing more jobs to the community.
“We’re using CEDIT on a lot of things that have nothing to do with economic development. If we’re not going to use it for economic development, we can do it later,” he said. “Anything that’s used to promote and bring industry to town is economic development … it’s not illegal to use it on what (the current commissioners) are using it for, but it’s been used for everything else and I do not support that.”
Zinsmeister said he believes it’s important to focus on specific anticipated economic returns before dipping into the CEDIT fund.
Economic development is everything from people spending money on buildings and improvements and spending income on houses,” he said. “I think we need to use economic development (funds), but we need to use it wisely … you don’t always get to do everything, you just do the things that have the best return.”
Since County Council District 2 Candidate Jaime Miller was unable to attend the TEA Party debate, Kendall Mickley was the only candidate for County Council District 2 who participated.
Mickley, a lifelong Huntington resident with a Bachelor’s in accounting and 18 years of financial management experience under his belt, said if elected, he hopes to assist the county during these difficult financial times.
“In my professional life I’ve faced corporation bankruptcy and layoffs … through these experiences I’ve learned to continuously seek different ways to not only survive, but thrive,” he said, stressing the importance of expanding Huntington’s industrial and commercial base. “We need to find ways to grow our top line without increasing the burden on the top line. Focus on economic development. By increasing the industrial and commercial base, jobs are created and the tax base in enlarged.”
Current County Council District 3 Incumbent Pam Updike was unable to attend the event, so her opponent, candidate Joel Harris spent three minutes reiterating the five questions of his campaign platform: It is necessary? Is it reasonable? Is it the government’s responsibility? Have all options been explored? Is it cost effective?
“(Updike) is running on experience. She’s running on 15 years. Experience can be valuable, but the greater question is, what have you gotten from your experience?” Harris queried the audience, explaining anyone who thinks Updike has done an impressive job should vote for her reelection. “(I believe) budgets are poorly designed. There is little dialogue and little incentive to change.”
Harris said he is a strong conservative committed to transparency in county government.
“I’m open and accessible and glad to answer your questions,” he said. “I bring a fresh perspective. I put myself out as a person of integrity.”
Felicia Staley and Incumbent Don Davenriner, candidates for County Council District 4, were scheduled to debate their views. However, since unforeseen circumstances caused Davenriner to be unable to attend, Staley encouraged attendees not just to vote in Tuesday’s primary, but also to vote for experience.
“I’ve lived in Huntington County for 42 years, served as county commissioner secretary until 2005 and served two terms on County Council. I love politics; I love Huntington County,” she said. “Your local election makes a big difference. County woes will be worse in 2011. It’s up to us to vote for the most qualified candidates.”
County Sheriff Candidates Terry Stoffel, a Huntington Police officer, and Deputy Major Tom Carney both said they would do their best to defend the citizens of Huntington County.
“(I will protect citizens’ rights) by making sure I’m involved at the state level. It’s all at the state level,” Stoffel said, explaining that is where the most effective changes are made. “(I’m going to) have complete transparency; listen to the public … don’t try to hide behind anything.”
Carney said he will try to ensure that citizens know and understand the law.
“With all of the law changes we have, at times there are too many laws and the citizens don’t know the laws or what to do or how to do it. They do need to be protected and I will do that as sheriff,” he said. “Also you have to be aware of your surroundings and what goes on … and you have to avoid any misconception with the public that there is anything going on.”
Jay Poe, Huntington County Surveyor for the last 20 years, and challenger Marlin Doctor took the stage next, each explaining why he should be elected.
“Why am I running? Attitude. Overtime our elected officials forget they are working for the people. The people don’t work for them,” Doctor said, noting he is a proponent of limited government. “You should expect and demand courtesy in dealing with these people.”
Although Doctor said he has no experience in surveying, he said he believes it is unnecessary because the position of county surveyor is a management job.
“I have spent 20 years in management. It goes back to working with people. I believe you need to be worked with, your views need to be heard. You need to have input,” Doctor said, explaining many Indiana counties do not have licensed surveyors. “I’m also a small farmer in Clear Creek and with being in that I understand drainage and land management.”
Poe said he knew he wanted to be a surveyor prior to elementary school. He went to Purdue University to obtain a degree in surveying, became licensed in surveying and has spent his entire career surveying.
“The only thing I’ve done in my life is surveying. I worked with INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) as a district survey crew person, I had a private practice,” Poe said. “I’ve done a number of (surveying-related) things educationally including work as an instructor at the Farm Bureau Drainage School. I have a good strong background and that’s what’s needed in this office.”
School Board District 2 Candidate Jon Moore and current School Board President Kevin Patrick were next on the platform.
Moore, who teaches in the Huntington University Excel Program, said he believes one way to prevent recent state-level cuts in education funding from negatively impacting students may be to devise a way for the Huntington County Community School Corporation to receive community contributions, much like universities.
“You can give contributions to universities and receive tax credits. (We should offer) the option for the corporation to receive funds from the community,” Moore said. “By tying it to tax credits, you are keeping taxes from Indianapolis and in your own community.”
Patrick said the School Board, which needs to cut $1.7 million out of the 2010 budget and $2 million out of the 2011 budget, needs to focus on cutting unnecessary expenses without impacting the classroom.
“There are 333 school corporations and charter schools in Indiana. On an expense per person (comparison), Huntington County ranks 272. We’ve been very diligent with money from taxpayers,” Patrick said. “We have to focus on our core mission: educate our kids. It’s hard to do that without teachers. We have to continue with teachers in the classroom and build from there. We need to look line by line and find better ways to spend our money.”
The four candidates for County Clerk, Stacey Elzey Bischoff, Kitty Keiffer, Gary Snyder and Incumbent Fran Felts, closed the evening’s debate by sharing their vision for the Clerk’s Office.
Bischoff said she conducted research and concluded the clerk’s position is a management position – something she’s experienced with since she has helped her parents manage local bowling alley Rainbow Lanes.
“We have to follow the rules the state sets, but it doesn’t mean we can’t fight to change that rule,” she said, explaining she also promotes transparency in government. “I will fight for changes if it (a rule) needs to be changed. If we let politicians make our decisions for us and they don’t let us speak, it’s going to stay the same.”
Keiffer, a former Re/Max realtor, said if elected, she hopes to create a positive and friendly atmosphere in the office.
“Taxpayers (should) consider it to be a professional, customer-friendly place to go. It needs to be held to the highest level of integrity and have a leader who will enforce the rules in tough times,” she said. “We all know we have to live by the rules the state passes down. It requires someone who knows what the rules are and how they are to be implemented and whatever input we have locally can be expressed.”
Felts, who recently replaced former Clerk Vicki Stoffel after she stepped down due to her husband’s campaign for sheriff, said the office has a terrific staff which made it simple for her to step into the position.
“We have to stay strong with all our county people. It’s going to take all our county people to give the people at the state level the information they need to make good decisions for our offices,” she said. “We have the tax dollars and budgets that we take care of …but as far as bringing control back to the county we have to go to the next level and make sure the legislator’s know what we need.”
Snyder, who said his goal is to bring openness, honesty and integrity back to the clerk’s office, said he plans to follow national and state mandates closely.
“While you do have some discretion is how laws are applied … it’s a tough job to make sure that the rules of the state are followed,” Snyder said. “It takes a leader to make sure the things in the office are done appropriately.”
An audience-submitted question asked candidates their views on the County Election Board’s announcement that the list of political candidates in the next election will not be released to the public until it had been certified. The Election Board made the announcement after Felts admittedly changed the official date time stamp on the filing form of Kris Underwood, causing the legitimacy of his candidacy to be called into question. Accusations also arose that Underwood was not on the original list of candidates released to the public.
Bischoff said since state law requires the list of candidates to be released immediately, that law should be followed.
“It should be released when it says it should be released,” she said. “Deal with the situation at hand, but don’t go making up a new rule or law.”
Keiffer said she has been very vocal about the importance of transparency during her campaign.
“All of this was the result of an issue or a mistake that was made and I don’t think tightening transparency is fixing the issue,” she said. “We need more transparency in government, not less. Especially if there has been a questionable transaction to a questionable item the public feels they need answers to.”
Snyder said, per state law, the Election Board needs to release the candidate list immediately after the filing deadline for the next election.
“Waiting until the Monday following the deadline, I don’t think that follows that law. Transparency is the key to that, whether it’s charging money for copies or waiting until 72 hours after the filing deadline,” Snyder said. “Working with the election board, you need to release the lists immediately. It wasn’t an error with the law, it was an error of process and the people of Huntington County should not be punished for that.”
Felts did not comment about the filing incident or the Election Board’s announcement, but instead notified the public that when Tuesday’s primary is over, the unofficial list of winners will be released.
“Once the election if over there is a 10 day grace period for any person who voted a provisional ballot,” she said. “They will get to vote and they have 10 days to get that in. You can’t certify an election until after those deadlines have passed.”
Among other candidates who did not participate in Friday evening’s debate were:
*Amy Richison for County Prosecutor
* Cheryl Schenkel, Andrew Krieg, Debra Hersey and Ray Williams for County Recorder
*Todd Landrum for County Council District 1
*Thomas R. King for School Board District 5
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