Truex, Mitchell Make History With Election To Council
January 13, 2017 at 7:01 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
While two other women have sat on council previously – Katherine Teel and Charlene Knispel – the fiscal board for the county has never had more than one female serve at one time.
That changed with the election of Sue Ann Mitchell and Joni Truex, who ended a six-year string of male dominance on the all-Republican council.
Little if any fanfare was made about the change, but both new at-large council members acknowledged it after Thursday’s meeting.
“I think men and women bring a different perspective, and I think it’s important to get both perspectives. I think it’s important,” said Truex, an Atwood area resident.
Mitchell, though, downplayed the moment.
“I think we’re just two thinking people,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know if we’re any different.”
Mitchell moves into the position with probably as much familiarity with county governance as anyone.
She’s been a public servant since starting in 1976 when she worked as a clerk and assessor in Tippecanoe Township with her husband, the late Dick Mitchell, who served as township trustee for many years.
The longtime North Webster area resident then began work in the county courthouse and was elected to stints as assessor, treasurer and auditor.
She also worked as the county’s Y2K coordinator, a job that led her to engage closely with all department heads.
“I felt like my experience could be a big benefit,” Mitchell said, adding that it’s a way to pay back the community for all the continuing education classes she’s taken over the years.
She said she believes it’s important to not only look out for taxpayers, but also county employees.
This is Truex’s first elected position.
She said she began appreciating politics and public service through her work with the Builders Association Kosciusko Fulton Counties, where she formerly served as executive officer.
In that role, she began meeting and working with state and federal lawmakers.
Those interactions left an impression, she said.
“I learned to appreciate the fact these people were spending their time trying to better the world,” Truex said.
Truex has a long business background and is an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech where she teaches business.
She said she chose to run for council because it represented an opportunity to use her abilities and background and contribute to the community.
“I’m excited and proud and humbled to represent Kosciusko County taxpayers,” she said.
Thursday’s meeting had a short agenda. Council action included:
• Formally approved the county convention bureau’s annual budget, which is $577,000.
• Agreed to no longer require department heads to seek prior approval to fill existing positions. A request to fill two positions in the assessor’s office was approved.
• Agreed to switch the drug court coordinator from hourly to salary.
• Bob Sanders was voted to remain as president of the council. Jon Garber will serve as vice president.
While two other women have sat on council previously – Katherine Teel and Charlene Knispel – the fiscal board for the county has never had more than one female serve at one time.
That changed with the election of Sue Ann Mitchell and Joni Truex, who ended a six-year string of male dominance on the all-Republican council.
Little if any fanfare was made about the change, but both new at-large council members acknowledged it after Thursday’s meeting.
“I think men and women bring a different perspective, and I think it’s important to get both perspectives. I think it’s important,” said Truex, an Atwood area resident.
Mitchell, though, downplayed the moment.
“I think we’re just two thinking people,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know if we’re any different.”
Mitchell moves into the position with probably as much familiarity with county governance as anyone.
She’s been a public servant since starting in 1976 when she worked as a clerk and assessor in Tippecanoe Township with her husband, the late Dick Mitchell, who served as township trustee for many years.
The longtime North Webster area resident then began work in the county courthouse and was elected to stints as assessor, treasurer and auditor.
She also worked as the county’s Y2K coordinator, a job that led her to engage closely with all department heads.
“I felt like my experience could be a big benefit,” Mitchell said, adding that it’s a way to pay back the community for all the continuing education classes she’s taken over the years.
She said she believes it’s important to not only look out for taxpayers, but also county employees.
This is Truex’s first elected position.
She said she began appreciating politics and public service through her work with the Builders Association Kosciusko Fulton Counties, where she formerly served as executive officer.
In that role, she began meeting and working with state and federal lawmakers.
Those interactions left an impression, she said.
“I learned to appreciate the fact these people were spending their time trying to better the world,” Truex said.
Truex has a long business background and is an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech where she teaches business.
She said she chose to run for council because it represented an opportunity to use her abilities and background and contribute to the community.
“I’m excited and proud and humbled to represent Kosciusko County taxpayers,” she said.
Thursday’s meeting had a short agenda. Council action included:
• Formally approved the county convention bureau’s annual budget, which is $577,000.
• Agreed to no longer require department heads to seek prior approval to fill existing positions. A request to fill two positions in the assessor’s office was approved.
• Agreed to switch the drug court coordinator from hourly to salary.
• Bob Sanders was voted to remain as president of the council. Jon Garber will serve as vice president.
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