Ernest B. Wiggins, 1555 Meadow Lane, Warsaw, is the current mayor of Warsaw. He is being challenged by opponent Craig Allebach.

Wiggins, and his wife, Deborah, have two children, Christopher, 21, and Elizabeth, 19. He is a partner at Ramsey and Wiggins Inc. CPA.

Born July 9, 1949, Wiggins' memberships include past president and past treasurer, Northern Indiana Mayor's Roundtable; Indiana Association of Cities and Towns; Indiana Association of Cities and Towns executive committee, legislative committee and chairman of the audit committee; Homeland Security and Emergency Management Team; Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management Board; Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce; Warsaw Community Development Corp. board member; and Warsaw Rotary Club, past treasurer.

Wiggins also is a Republican Convention delegate; a former member of Kosciusko County Tax Review Board; former City Council president; and a former member of the Aviation Board and Plan Commission.

His hobbies include flying, golfing, attending high school sporting events and attending his son's basketball games.

First appointed to his present office March 1, 1997, Wiggins is a former city councilman (1984 - 1997).

"Serving the public means providing the services residents expect from their city, such as police and fire protection, snow removal, leaf pickup, street maintenance and trash removal," Wiggins wrote in response to the Times-Union candidate questionnaire. "I firmly believe the public is served by listening and responding to requests for new services, as we did when we initiated the curbside recycling program.

"My open door policy has allowed each resident the opportunity to share views and voice concerns. I am committed to provide city services, with 'service' being the key word. For the first time, each city department head participated in a special training program to educate, train and inform them how to provide quality customer service and interact with concerned residents. I firmly believe it is not just enough for us to provide services. Each city employee must have the knowledge to serve, so the highest quality service is provided with respect and consideration given to each citizen.

"My major concern for our city is to provide the very best services to our residents at the highest value for their tax dollars. With the upcoming reassessment and change to market value, a potential shift in tax burden will be imposed on our individual residents. We must ensure that this does not unduly burden any resident, especially the retired and fixed income residents. We must devote resources to increase our tax base and be fiscally responsible in our spending.

"Over the past three years alone, we have saved taxpayers over $3 million in property taxes because the city kept its budgets below what was allowed to be budgeted by state law. We have also saved taxpayers over $1.3 million in property taxes due to the city departments exercising fiscal restraint and spending less than what their budgets allowed. This is the type of fiscal leadership I feel is necessary to continue to provide quality city services at a responsible tax rate.

"As mayor, I have opened communication between the city and county governments. Today's newfound spirit of cooperation has resulted in the new city/county Central Dispatch Center, which boasts state-of-the-art technology and provides residents with highest quality emergency services. New lines of communication have also opened with the state. The joint efforts of the city, county and state resulted in the creation of an incentive package to keep Medtronics and its employees in our community. This broadened our tax base, kept jobs here and has now seen the addition of new jobs.

"I have worked with IDEM and am having the former Gatke property prepared for new economic development opportunities. I also took the initiative to commission the HyettPalma Study. With this action agenda as a tool, the city is working with the WCDC and property owners to make enhancements, such as informational signage, parking opportunities and facade renovations.

"I have also set in motion the combining of private sector funds and grant monies to develop the Lake City Greenway project in response to a KLA White Paper. This will create additional family and recreational opportunities utilizing grant monies at an 80 percent match. Neighborhoods and pedestrian traffic have been improved through the street, curb and sidewalk programs.

"And lastly, in the last three years alone, the taxpayers have been saved over $4.4 million dollars in property taxes."

For the future, Wiggins wrote, "I will ensure our continued economic development activities. The completion of the second wastewater treatment plant will provide the infrastructure needed to compete for new industrial growth, job creation and job retention. We will continue to partner with the Chamber, KDI, county, state, businesses and industries to identify and provide assets allowing for growth, profitability and quality jobs. This will provide an expanded tax base attractive for additional retail, restaurant and small business investments.

"I will continue with my open door policy to be accessible and responsive to citizens and city employees.

"And finally, with my background as a Certified Public Accountant, I will continue to monitor the city's multimillion-dollar department budgets and keep department heads accountable for their expenditures, which over the past three years, has resulted in a savings to our taxpayers of more than $4.4 million. Our low tax rate enjoyed today is a direct product of continued efforts to broaden our tax base and monitor expenses. I will continue to exercise fiscal conservatism while providing quality services to our residents." [[In-content Ad]]