ALLEN COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGE 2016

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http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local/Eight-Republicans-seek-three-Allen-County-Council-seats--one-newcomer-assured
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Eight Republicans seek three Allen County Council seats; one newcomer assured

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By Kevin Leininger, kleininger@news-sentinel.com

Thursday, April 21, 2016 12:01 AM

With Republican Bill Brown not seeking re-election, six challengers are hoping to fill his vacancy – and at-large incumbents Robert Armstrong and Roy Buskirk are hoping the new year doesn’t bring still more newcomers.

Armstrong proudly considers himself “old school,” and scoffs at the currently fashionable notion that government should help improve the ”quality of place” in order to attract more people and jobs. “This has me in a tizzy. I call it ‘recreational economic development,’” he said of efforts to build a downtown arena, improve the Columbia Street “Landing” and similar projects. “Jobs is what economic development should be all about.”

Armstrong said the council has been involved in projects that have created or retained more than 6,400 jobs since 2011 but questions the use of $2.8 million in state “Regional Cities” funds for a downtown residential tower next to the new Ash Brokerage. If County Council is ever asked to increase taxes to match Regional Cities grants, Armstrong said he’ll be skeptical.

“As long as it’s not on the backs of taxpayers, I’m all for it. But a lot of people are struggling,” he said.

Armstrong said he’s open to the county’s continued involvement in creating “shovel-ready” industrial sites and perhaps even so-called “shell” buildings, which could be occupied quickly by companies looking to expand or relocate. He supports proposals that the county seek ways to shift some costs to the city if it annexes 23 square miles that could decrease county revenues by more than $5 million per year.

“I won’t waste your money,” he said. “I’m for the taxpayers, not tax spenders.”

As a Fort Wayne firefighter, Jeremy Bush is prohibited by law from holding a city elective office. He’s running for County Council because as president of the firefighters’ union he’s come to appreciate the value of good leadership – and believes he can provide it on council.

“As (union) president, I deal with finances, and I pride myself on ability to do research,” he said. “I’m a conservative person, and economic development is important. But I’ll make sure it makes sense for the taxpayers. Bush said he would not try to organize non-union county workers but said his role as union president gives him “a unique opportunity to see both sides. I support core services and want to work collaboratively on public safety.” Once those core services are assured, Bush said, the county should work to improve neighborhoods. Bush said he not opposed to working with the city on downtown development.

“I have a passion for representing people. My goal is to provide our community, businesses and government with principled leadership,” he said.

Like Armstrong, Buskirk said he is concerned that the need to provide a local match for $42 million in Regional Cities grants available in 11 counties will cause some to look to the taxpayers. “I don’t believe in raising taxes,” he said, noting that the county already has about $13 million in its rainy day fund and another $20 million in economic development taxes, although some is pledged to roads and other projects.

Buskirk said he is skeptical about suggestions that the county adopt a “zero-based” budget process that would require council essentially to build the budget line-by-line from scratch. “I still believe department heads know (best about budgets),” Buskirk said, adding that he is open to developing a long-range strategic plan for county government that could guide spending.

He says the county could try to recover money lost through possible annexation by imposing a booking fee on city residents brought to the jail or by no longer maintaining bridges within the city limit. As for economic development, Buskirk believes the county has done a good job of attracting new industry but said it should consider creation of additional shovel-ready sites.

“Why me? Experience,” he said. “I always look out for working people.”

Mark Hagar considered a run for 84th District state representative in 2013 and says seeking a council seat is a logical follow up because “the county responds to the state.”

That belief is especially clear when it comes to economic development. Hagar said abatements and other current incentives mean council members too often are “left picking winners and losers.” Instead, Hagar said the county should explore the elimination of personal property taxes, which he believes would create a more robust economy for everyone. “That would be wonderful, but we’d need to explore the revenue (lost),” he said. If the council does give tax property breaks, he said, it should especially target businesses moving to the area or expanding – “a better pay off for taxpayers,” he said.

Hagar believes the county has done reasonably well on economic development but said its millions of dollars of cash reserves “borders on the irresponsible. How much is enough?”

With the county responsible for bearing most of the cost of the jail and courts, Hagar said controlling those costs will become even more important. He would also work to improve departments’ budgetary accountability. and said the county should take advantage of laws that state would allow it to gain control of so-called “zombie” homes in foreclosure. He said plans for a downtown arena or higher taxes to pay for it “bother” him, especially after millions have been spent to expand and improve the county-owned Memorial Coliseum.

Hagar said his experience as a small-business owner and advocate would translate well to council. “I’ve handled budgets, and I understand how government works,” he said.

Nathan Hartman said he has been interested in government since he was in high school and is seeking office now because “you look for the right time and the right issues. We’re spending too much money on the wrong things; we’re losing companies and not doing enough to get (jobs) back.”

In addition to more effective use of tax abatements and other traditional economic development tools, Hartman said the county should seek jobs in partnership with the city, businesses and others and work with colleges to prepare a work force ready to meet the demand. The county should be especially aggressive in wooing companies looking to locate their headquarters here, he added.

Hartman said his experience as a pension consultant has equipped him to deal with the county’s budget and its liabilities, assets and risks. “You want someone with an analytical mind (on council),” he said. He would be cautious about involving the county in expensive downtown development projects because jobs – not “quality of place” will most effectively attract new residents. He would try to shield the county’s budget from the impact of the city’s proposed annexation and wants to increase the county’s rainy day fund so it can weather financial crises.

“I want to create a better life here for my 1-year-old daughter,” he said.

Ken Richardson, who ran for City Council last year, says he is seeking a County Council seat now because his “philosophy is that citizens need to step up and make themselves available” and because his business and real estate background equip him to serve residents well.

Although Richardson acknowledges Fort Wayne’s role as the hub of northeast Indiana, he believes small towns and outlying areas have not received the attention and investment they deserve. “When it comes to spending, I would look at the big picture and the longevity of the project. Too often we’re like kids in a candy store. My goal is to give fresh voice,” he said. That approach would make him reluctant to involve the county in such proposals as a downtown arena unless there would be an adequate return on investment.

The county has done a “pretty good job” on economic development, he said, but should do more to improve the infrastructure in outlying areas. He’s not a fan of tax abatements but believes they can be useful in limited circumstances. He would seek ways to minimize the financial impact of annexation.

“I’m not applying to be a brain surgeon,” he said. “Aggressive spending can lead to financial collapse. I have the life experience to do the job. I’ve learned from my failures.”

Eric Tippmann knows budgeting and other aspects of the job can seem mundane, but as a chemistry professor he’s “naturally curious about how complex things work and want to make them better. I can do that (on council),” he said.

Tippmann believes there may be overlap in economic development groups partially funded by the county, such as Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and the Downtown Improvement District. He would also seek other efficiencies in the county’s budget and operations and believes the widespread respect and success enjoyed by Sweetwater Sound shows what Allen County is capable of.

“Who do you want looking over mundane details? Someone who does it every day,” Tippmann said. “I have integrity and passion for details. I won’t micromanage, but I’ll go through this stuff. We’re all in this together.”

Ron Turpin says Allen County is in a war -- a war for jobs. And he believes his business and governmental experience would help assure victory through his service on council.

“As we look at vibrant communities, there are strong partnerships between the public, private and philanthropic areas,” said Turpin, a former Lincoln Financial group vice president who also chairs Greater Fort Wayne Inc.’s board and the city’s Legacy committee. That skill set, he says, makes him unique among this year’s candidates.

Although Greater Fort Wayne has advocated tax increases to provide the match needed to secure state Regional Cities funds that Turpin said he would exhaust every opportunity to save money before looking at additional revenues. “Are we spending money for the highest use possible? A number of things are going well and a number of things need to be addressed.” Creation of a strategic plan and use of zero-based budgeting would promote efficient, effective government, he said.

Turpin wants to ensure the county’s tax environment is conducive to private-sector investment and believes the county should use abatements and other incentives more strategically to attract higher-paying jobs without subsidizing projects that would happen even without the taxpayers’ help.

Turpin, who said he would give his council salary to charity if elected, wants the county to work with the city on improving downtown and is open to the possibility of relocating the jail and other facilities if creation of a “criminal justice center” makes sense. He believes the county should explore creation of more shovel-ready sites to attract jobs.

“We don’t have mountains or oceans, but we do have low cost and it’s easy to drive around (Fort Wayne). There are no cookie-cutter answers, but we all want the same thing: to make this a community we want to grow old in,” he said.

Morrison Agen, Palermo Galindo and David Roach are unopposed on the Democratic council at-large ballot.

Robert A. Armstrong

Age: 56

Occupation: Allen County Solid Waste District, councilman since 2009

Education: Northrop High School

Family: widowed, one son

Contact: homerun1604@frontier.com

Jeremy Bush

Age: 37

Occupation: Fort Wayne Fire Department, president of Fort Wayne Professional Firefighters union

Education: Leo High School, Kaplan University

Family: single, three children

Contact: jeremybush551@gmail.com

Roy Buskirk

Age: 71

Occupation: retired right-of-way buyer; county councilman since 2002

Family: Married, three children

Education: Lafayette Center High School; International Business College

Contact: rbuskirk@ frontier.com

Mark Hagar

Age: 49

Occupation: president, Hagar Corp.; managing member, Regional Angel Investment Network (RAIN Indiana)

Education: Northrop High School/Anthis Career Center; Ivy Tech, Indiana Institute of Technology, Ball State University

Family: married, two children

Contact: mark@rainindiana.com

Nathan Hartman

Age: 36

Occupation: pension consultant

Education: Bishop Dwenger High School, Indiana University

Family: married, one child

Contact: www.hartman2016.com

Kenneth Richardson

Age: 54

Occupation: Ken Richardson Realty Co.

Education: North Side High School, GED

Family: Married, two children

Contact: ken@kenrichardsonrealty.com

Eric Tippman

Age: 43

Occupation: chemistry professor, IPFW

Education: Bishop Dwenger High School, IPFW, Purdue University, Ohio State University

Family: married, three children

Contact: votetippmann.com

Ron Turpin

Age: 45

Occupation: market president and chief financial officer, Gibson Insurance Group

Education: Terre Haute South High School; Indiana State University, Indiana University School of Law

Family: married, two children

Contact: ronaldt33@gmail.com

More Information

Office: Allen County Council, Republican at-large (vote for three)

Duties: The seven-member council is the county's financial body, responsible for establishing and overseeing the budget and for approving tax "phase-ins" and other economic development incentives. Its three at-large members represent the entire county, not individual districts.

Annual salary: $16,455

Term: Four years, beginning Jan. 1

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COUNTY COMMISSIONER ALLEN COUNTY 2016
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http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local/County-Commissioners--race-a-partial-rerun-from-four-years-ago
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County Commissioners' race a partial rerun from four years ago

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By Kevin Leininger, kleininger@news-sentinel.com

Friday, April 22, 2016 12:01 AM

The Republican contest for County Commissioner is a two-thirds rerun from four years ago, when Nelson Peters was re-elected with nearly 76 percent of the votes. Former opponent John McGauley is now executive of Allen Superior Courts, but William C. Phillips is back for a second crack at the incumbent.

To Peters, who previously served on County Council for 10 years, experience is the difference that will enable him to help build on recent economic development successes. The county saw about $1.5 billion in corporate investment last year alone, he noted (about $1.2 billion coming at General Motors), but also attracted a new Wal-Mart milk plant, XPO Logistics facility and others. Wages have begun to inch up, but not as quickly as Peters and others would like and still lag behind the national average.

But while Peters is proud of the successes the county and its partners have achieved, he also wants to hold those partners accountable. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. wants the county to increase its annual payment from $250,000 to $500,000, but Peters said that if the county agrees, it will want measurable achievements in return -- such as continued wage growth.

Peters said the county could do more in the future to create "shell" buildings that could be occupied quickly by companies looking to relocate or expand. He would like to see Adams Center Road grow into an industrial corridor and expects growth along the Airport Expressway but also wants the county to work more closely with neighborhoods to make improvements there.

Peters said he's also capable of a broader vision, serving on the 11-county caucus of mayors and commissioners. "I've become a fan of regionalism," he said. "We need to develop trust." He also believes it is important that Allen County's other cities and towns have a chance to compete for some of the $42 million in Regional Cities money earmarked for northeast Indiana -- much of it expected to go to Fort Wayne.

Peters said it may be time to update the county's long-range development plan and suggested creation of a city-county Plan Commission is worth considering. Peters also said the county needs to educate the city about the impact of its proposed annexation of 22,000 -- such as a projected $5 million-a-year loss to the county.

Phillips, meanwhile, says he will "give back the office" to county residents.

"(Peters) has basically surrendered the office to out-of-town interests," Phillips said. "I see large donations from Indianapolis and surrounding Indiana counties and I ask myself, 'Why would a person from Indianapolis want to send me campaign money in Allen County unless there was something they wanted in return?' "

Phillips said he has accepted only a $2 contribution from a friend and has "no obligations whatsoever to any group or organization that may wish to influence (me)." As of last week, Peters' campaign had nearly $84,000 in receipts; Phillips had $52 -- $50 of which was on hand before the most recent reporting period. Phillips said he also believes elected officials should serve no more than two terms.

And like Peters, Phillips believes his experience would serve residents well. That experience includes a background in production and sales, land development, contracting, real estate, investments and other area.

"I've been training for this a long time," Phillips said four years ago. "Fort Wayne has been good to me, and I want to give something back."

There is no Democratic candidate for commissioner on the primary ballot.

Nelson Peters

Age: 57

Occupation: Allen County Commissioner since 2005; Summit Human Resources Specialists

Education: Snider High School, Indiana University

Family: married, two children

Contact: fnpiv@aol.com

William C. Phillips

Age: 77

Occupation: real estate broker

Education: Concordia High School, University of Miami (Fla.)

Family: married, four children

Contact: wcp1@comcast.net

More Information

Office: Allen County Commissioner, First District Republican primary

Term: four years, beginning Jan. 1.

Salary: $70,816

Duties: The three commissioners serve as the executive and legislative branches of county government, with the authority to approve policies that affect county employees and ordinances that primarily affect unincorporated areas of the county. They are the only unit in county government that can receive bids for projects and services and sign contracts. They also supervise county buildings, make planning and zoning decisions, and supervise construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. They serve and are elected countywide (at-large), but must live within their geographic districts.

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