|
Published: October 10, 2008 05:41 pm
ELECTION Q&A 2008: Floyd County Council At-Large
Editor’s Note: Submissions appear as the candidates submitted them without editing. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Except where noted, questionnaires are only being published for contested races.
Dana (Zabel) Fendley
• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican
• AGE: 57
• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: New Albany High School Graduate; IUS casework, IVY Tech. casework
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Current Vice President of the Floyd County Council, serving in first term. Previous owner, Fashion Tree Boutique; Retired, BellSouth Telecommunications
• FAMILY NOTES: Married to Frank H. Fendley, Jr. for 29 years, no children. Daughter of Donald and (the late) Jennie Zabel
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE? “Serving on the County Council is just another way to be of service to others. I have always volunteered my time and since I retired, I have more time to devote to my hometown. Our county has much to offer and I want to ensure that it continues to be a wonderful community for our citizens.”
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FOR THIS POSITION IN 2009? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE? “The most pressing issue that the council faces today is how to run the county on less money when every expense has increased. We are looking at ways to cut our insurance costs and we have hired an IT professional to oversee computer expenses. I have also proposed the use of volunteers and interns in some government offices. I know of many retired executives who would volunteer a day every week or month and could be easily trained. I am also in favor of consolidation of duplicate government services between the city of New Albany and Floyd County in order to reduce expenses for both entities.”
WHAT UNIQUE SKILL OR EXPERIENCE WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THIS POSITION IF ELECTED? “I am not afraid to speak out against long-standing practices or policies that should have been changed a long time ago. I study the issues and make an informed decision regardless of the political consequences. I listen to both sides of an issue with respect and vote what I think will be best for all.”
IF RECENT FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS CONTINUE, WHAT SPECIFIC ACTS WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP BOOST REVENUES OR CUT EXPENSES IN FLOYD COUNTY? “I addressed this concern in question number 2, because it is the most pressing issue we face as a county.”
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2009 WITH THE PROPOSED NEW COUNTY YOUTH SHELTER? “It is essential that we build a new youth shelter, and it is very unfortunate that the current financial hardships have delayed this project. I would like to see a new youth shelter built with the help of community and corporate donations and federal and state grants. Four years ago I started a charitable fund to support the youth shelter and made the first contribution. I think we have enough money in this community that could be brought together to fund this project without committing so much in tax dollars. It is vital that this project move forward.”
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2009 TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY IN FLOYD COUNTY — SPECIFICALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENDING AND THE OVERCROWDED FLOYD COUNTY JAIL? “I have already had this discussion with a few of the law enforcement officers in the county and we disagree over the solution. I want to focus on reducing the root causes of crime in this community. Increasing the number of police officers and building a larger jail facility only addresses the consequences of criminal activity.
“I do agree that the jail is overcrowded and the council has agreed to open a new court in Floyd County to alleviate the bottleneck in the court system. The additional court will reduce the average interval between arrest and trial, thereby reducing the number of inmates awaiting trial in our county jail.
“Much of our jail population is either from across the river or from our many public housing projects. New Albany has one of the largest per capita ratios of public housing in Indiana. We need to consolidate and reduce our housing projects, moving families from the overcrowded projects into single family homes. An improvement in environment and elimination of bad neighborhoods is the cornerstone to the reduction of criminal activity and the attraction of criminal elements from other areas.”
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON CONSOLIDATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR CITY-COUNTY LEVEL? SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE “COUNTY GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION PLAN” SUGGESTED BY INDIANA COMMISSIONERS? DO YOU SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE KERNAN-SHEPARD REPORT? “Former Governor Kernan and Chief Justice Shepard led a commission on government reform at the request of Governor Daniels. Their report includes a list of proposals to consolidate and change Indiana government. They found over 10,000 elected people in 92 counties and thousands of local governments. They found many overlapping services between the cities, townships and counties. They proposed 27 different recommendations and the State Legislature has already adopted a few. One proposal was for a single county executive and a stronger county council, to whom professionally qualified administrators should report and be accountable. They also recommend that some of the jobs held by elected people be changed to non-elected positions and to establish objective minimum professional qualifications and standards that are not required today. So yes, I do agree with the report and most of the recommendations in it. Our system of government has not changed in over 150 years and although it is painful and disruptive to begin the transformation process, it is one we must begin for our future prosperity.”
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A NON-TRAFFIC COURT CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES? IF SO, PLEASE EXPLAIN ALL RELEVANT INSTANCES. “No”
Carol Shope
• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Democrat
• AGE: 65
• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: Graduate of Miami of Ohio University; Further studies at Winterthur Museum; Museum of Decorative Arts (U of North Carolina)
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Former teacher and business owner
• FAMILY NOTES: Married to husband, Terry, for 41 years; 2 daughters and a 1-year old granddaughter
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE? “Having grown up in a political family and being exposed to politics ever since I can remember gave me a strong desire to serve. President Truman, his daughter, Margaret, the opera singer and now mystery writer were idols in my family. I was the only teen privileged to interview President Kennedy in Dayton, Ohio. These early experiences only served to whet my political interest. Throughout the years while raising my daughters and working, I participated as a volunteer and contributor in campaigns for others from Courthouse to White House. It has always been my desire to serve in an elected local position.
“The County Council is a great office to hold - it plays a vital role in people's lives because it determines how we responsibly spend public money for public benefit. I have been privileged to serve on the Council for the last 4 years and I love what I do.”
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FOR THIS POSITION IN 2009? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE? “The Budget. County government will be called on to do more with less. We have to either slash spending across the board or re-allocate funds within the budget as a whole or identify additional revenues to meet the needs of our citizens. The answer will likely be a combination of these options and it will take determination and fortitude to decide carefully and wisely. I am open to any reasonable and practical solutions.”
WHAT UNIQUE SKILL OR EXPERIENCE WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THIS POSITION IF ELECTED? “I have experience in operating businesses. That means I am aware of what it takes to meet a payroll, plan for the future, operate profitably, and manage efficiently and effectively. The lessons learned as an educator, business owner and community activist have enabled me to be thoughtful and creative in problem-solving. During the last 4 years, I have been challenged to accept the reality that we can't have it all, but we can and should be able to keep our heads above water while working toward a better Floyd County.”
IF RECENT FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS CONTINUE, WHAT SPECIFIC ACTS WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP BOOST REVENUES OR CUT EXPENSES IN FLOYD COUNTY? “As I have said previously, we can slash the budget across the board or raise taxes. However, my approach would be to carefully examine each expenditure to determine its value to the community. We are not alone in our struggle, so the action taken by other counties may provide a workable solution. The community has to decide what is important. We are obligated to provide services such as public safety and health and infrastructure. Can we do without our parks, solid waste, soil and water conservation, youth services, civil defense, the animal shelter, or alcohol and drug services? This is where the rubber meets the road. From my perspective, I want to work toward keeping Floyd County a safe and secure and preserve our quality of life. I look forward to a time when we can grow and prosper as a progressive, thriving community.”
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN2009 WITH THE PROPOSED NEW COUNTY YOUTH SHELTER? “A new youth shelter is one of my top priorities. I serve on the Youth Shelter Board and have first-hand knowledge of its needs and the important work it does. As a former educator, I am well aware that we can't just throw kids away. We must provide an environment where they can learn problem-solving skills, be safe and stay in school. I recognize that this is a parental responsibility, but the family unit is under attack by a host of factors and some children are just unable to adapt. It does “take a village” to deal with these at-risk children and expenditures on behalf of this population now may likely save us money in the future in terms of our jail issues.”
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2009 TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY IN FLOYD COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENDING AND THE OVERCROWDED FLOYD COUNTY JAIL? “I would enthusiastically support a greatly expanded neighborhood watch program throughout all of Floyd County. The eyes and ears of our neighbors are invaluable in deterring crime. That being said, Floyd County has grown tremendously which has escalated the county's costs dramatically, especially fuel, maintenance, and personnel. In the near future, we will have to consider whether to construct a new jail facility before it is forced on us by the State. I much prefer spending money on early intervention and rehabilitation efforts by utilizing existing programs such as ATOD, community correction alternatives for non-violent crimes, and other less costly options.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON CONSOLIDATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR CITY-COUNTY LEVEL? SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION PLAN SUGGESTED BY INDIANA COMMISSIONERS? DO YOU SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE KERNAN-SHEPARD REPORT? “I would strongly support any measures that would save money and be more efficient. The reorganization plan has merit and would provide a good framework for the future. It will require much further study and examination to determine its impact on our local government. We can't simply be opposed to consolidation of certain governmental units. People rightfully expect their elected and appointed officials to be forward-thinking and do whatever it takes to make government work.”
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A NON-TRAFFIC COURT CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES? IF SO, PLEASE EXPLAIN ALL RELEVANT INSTANCES. “No, never.”
Brad C. Striegel
• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Democrat
• AGE: 30
• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: I am a graduate of Christian Academy of Indiana, a graduate of the First Annual Southern Indiana Police Reserve Academy, and currently completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Indiana University Southeast.
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: I am a small business owner of a communications company. I am honored to have volunteered my services in the Floyd County Police Department for over five years as a Police Reserve Officer.
• FAMILY NOTES: I was born and raised in Floyd County. I come from a family of five. My parents are Roger and Barbara Striegel. I have two brothers, Troy and John. My wife, Hannah, and I have been married for over three years and live in Greenville. I am a member of a family that has a strong political background of service to the community.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE? “I want to serve my community. And I believe I have proven ability and integrity to be fiscally responsible for the taxpayer’s money. I will be fair in dealing with the taxpayer’s money in the various departments of Floyd County.”
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FOR THIS POSITION IN 2009? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE? “I believe the most pressing issue will be efficiency and effectiveness of county government. The State of Indiana has cut property taxes and other funds and has put the burden on the local governments to fund projects and issues. I will make the difficult decisions along with other council members to serve in the best interest of Floyd County.”
WHAT UNIQUE SKILL OR EXPERIENCE WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THIS POSITION IF ELECTED? “I believe I can apply my professional and business experience along with my educational background in Political Science to work effectively with other members of the Council. I have volunteered my time and services with the Floyd County Police Department for over five years and it has allowed me to come in contact with Business Owners, Community Leaders, and the Citizens of Floyd County to better understand the needs and concerns of this community.”
IF RECENT FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS CONTINUE, WHAT SPECIFIC ACTS WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP BOOST REVENUES OR CUT EXPENSES IN FLOYD COUNTY? "Of course, limited finances demand that we establish priorities in expenditures to make difficult decisions. I will work with the other council members to make those difficult decisions in the best interest of the community. There was a recent feasibility study done on Floyd County Government, and I would like the opportunity to review the results of the study to formulate proactive solutions.”
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2009 WITH THE PROPOSED NEW COUNTY YOUTH SHELTER? “There is a need for a new shelter. Once elected, I will take the opportunity to review all the detention needs in Floyd County including but not limited to the Youth Shelter, Detention Center, Floyd County Jail, and the work release program for non-violent criminals to implement a comprehensive solution to the needs facing Floyd County.”
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2009 TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY IN FLOYD COUNTY — SPECIFICALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENDING AND THE OVERCROWDED FLOYD COUNTY JAIL? “Some overcrowding in the jail will be eased by the new court which will expedite the processing of those incarcerated. We need a better solution for the non-violent criminals. I would like to see a panel established which would consist of a Judge, Prosecutor, Sheriff, Commissioner and Councilman or a representative of their department, to review various issues that effect their particular department. This panel would meet on a quarterly basis and discuss ways to proactively obtain resources to meet the future needs of each department.”
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON CONSOLIDATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR CITY-COUNTY LEVEL? SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE “COUNTY GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION PLAN” SUGGESTED BY INDIANA COMMISSIONERS? DO YOU SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE KERNAN-SHEPARD REPORT? “There needs to be some consideration given to this idea. I have read the Kernan-Shepard report, and I believe there are some points of interest and some that will be economically challenging for Floyd County. I will do what is in the best interest of the citizens for the long term through conservative budgetary conscience. We need to take note of other cities around us that have consolidated their governments to see what kind of challenges they have or continue to face (i.e., Louisville, Indianapolis). There are still many unanswered questions regarding these reports and recommendations.”
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A NON-TRAFFIC COURT CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES? IF SO, PLEASE EXPLAIN ALL RELEVANT INSTANCES. “No!”
Larry M. Summers
• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican
• AGE: 24
• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: “I attended the University of Evansville where I graduated with two engineering degrees in four years (B.S. in Civil Engineering and B.S. in Engineering Management). I served as the president of the Dean's Advisory Council, Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering Honor Society), and Village Council; a Supreme Court Justice for the Student Government Association; the Engineering Representative to the University Honor Council; Treasurer for Powell Hall Council; Historian for the ASCE Student Chapter; and a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society), Phi Eta Sigma
(Honor Society) and National Society of Collegiate Scholars (Honor Society).
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: I work as a project engineer in the Highway Division of HMB Professional Engineers, Inc.
• FAMILY NOTES: I am married to my high school sweetheart, Ashley. We have four Siberian Huskies (Sammy, Rusty, Midnight and Meeshka) and a cat (Andy).
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE? “I love the community in which I live, and I feel that I have much to offer — including fresh insights that will change the status quo. I grew up in New Albany, and I feel that I should give back to the community and the county that has given me so much.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FOR THIS POSITION IN 2009? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? “The most important issue facing the County Council in 2009 and beyond will be funding. Floyd County’s budget has already been frozen the past two years and the Council has had trouble making ends meet.
Compounding the issue, the recent property tax reform passed by the Indiana General Assembly will create a projected $1.2 million revenue shortfall in 2009 and $2.4 million shortfall in 2010. We are going to need new ideas to overcome these challenges, rather than recycling old ones.
“I would like to implement a couple of new ideas to make the County Council and the rest of county government more transparent and accountable. The first idea would help us accomplish some semblance of both transparency and accountability in one step; Floyd County should make the county’s budget, appropriations and the County Council’s meeting minutes available online. If other government entities can make similar information available online, Floyd County should too.
“Another way to increase accountability is to implement an inter/intra•departmental review of expenses. People within a department or even those from other departments should be able to report wasteful spending without fear of reprisal.”
WHAT UNIQUE SKILL OR EXPERIENCE WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THIS POSITION IF ELECTED? “I feel that my educational background uniquely qualifies me for this position because the two areas that government deals with most frequently are managing and engineering. My first degree is in civil engineering which includes the design of infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings, pipelines, sanitary sewage plants, and etcetera). My second degree is in engineering management which includes all aspects of managing any business, not just engineering companies (management, accounting, marketing, economics, strategic decision making, and etcetera).
Also, as a Cherokee and a young adult, I feel that I could represent segments of the population that often go without a voice in government.”
IF RECENT FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS CONTINUE, WHAT SPECIFIC ACTS WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP BOOST REVENUES OR CUT EXPENSES IN FLOYD COUNTY? “We need to look into merging services both the city and county provide so we can offer those services more efficiently and with less expense. If the current estimate of the reduction in property tax revenue is accurate, Floyd County will have to reduce its $13 million budget by $2.4 million in two years — that is approximately an 18.5 percent reduction. While the council may be able to pare the budget down, I cannot foresee an 18.5 percent reduction in two years. If this is the case, the County Council will need to seriously consider the merits of the local option income tax.
Additionally, I have mentioned several ways to introduce accountability and transparency (to reduce expenses); the first of which was making the county’s budget, appropriations and the County Council meeting minutes available online. Secondly, I mentioned implementing an inter/intra-departmental review of expenses because individuals inside the offices can pinpoint waste better than the County Council.
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2009 WITH THE PROPOSED NEW COUNTY YOUTH SHELTER?
“At this point, anything and everything should be on the table because the status quo is not acceptable. The county needs to work with the youth shelter’s executive director, Leah Pezzarossi, to ensure that the youth in the county shelter are being cared for properly. Ideally, the county would get the bonds necessary to build the new shelter; however, that is not only not feasible, it would be irresponsible with the current financial situation that the county is experiencing.
“The county should look at all options including, but not limited to, repairing the existing structure, selling the property where the existing shelter is and using those funds to construct a new shelter elsewhere, scaling back the current plans for the new shelter and selling the frontage of the property to pay for the construction of the new shelter or any combination of the aforementioned ideas.”
WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2009 TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY IN FLOYD COUNTY? SPECIFICALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENDING AND THE OVERCROWDED FLOYD COUNTY JAIL? “Like any other department in Floyd County, law enforcement needs to rein in its spending; however, the fundamental purpose of government is the maintenance of basic security and public order; consequently, if the Sheriff or the Chief of Police says the county needs additional officers to meet the needs of this county, we should oblige said requests as long as they can show us reason and logic.
“Also, we need to take the initiative and prepare for the expansion of the Floyd County Jail on our terms instead of waiting for a judicial order forcing us into action that we are not prepared to take.”
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON CONSOLIDATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR CITY-COUNTY LEVEL? SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION PLAN SUGGESTED BY INDIANA COMMISSIONERS? DO YOU SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE KERNAN-SHEPARD REPORT? “We, as elected officials or those aspiring to become an elected official, should look at all options on the table to save the tax payers’ money. I think that the Indiana Commissioners’ report, Modernization of Local Government: County Level, offers an excellent method of streamlining government while Part II, Option Two also creates checks and balances (if the system changes, we must ensure that the level of service is greater than or equal to the existing level). Under the current system, the County Commissioners are both the legislative branch and the executive branch while the County Council serves as the fiscal body. The aforementioned proposal creates a county Chief Executive Officer to serve solely as the executive branch while the County Council becomes the legislative branch and the fiscal body.
“The Indiana Commissioners’ report, especially the option that I pointed out above, is very similar to the Kernan-Shepard Report. When two separate entities come to a similar conclusion about a necessary reform, they give each other’s findings credence. Therefore, I believe that we, as a state, should look into the recommended reforms so that we can use the tax money in the most efficient manner possible.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A NON-TRAFFIC COURT CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES? IF SO, PLEASE EXPLAIN ALL RELEVANT INSTANCES. “No.”
Candidates(s) listed on the ballot that did not submit questionnaires by deadline include: Ted Heavrin of New Albany, Harry Harbison of New Albany.
|
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Subscribe to our daily headlines digest
