With early voting started this week and the May primary less than a month away, contested candidates were asked to respond to three questions.
Today’s responses are from Republican candidates for northern district Kosciusko County commissioner, including Marcia Baumgartner, Sue Ann Mitchell and Nate Scherer. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to about 200 words or less per question.
On Saturday, there will be responses from candidates for coroner and surveyor.
1. What experience makes you the best candidate to be the next northern district county commissioner?
Baumgartner: My seven years as Van Buren Township trustee/assessor, I learned on a smaller scale, controlling, maintaining,supervising, contracts and bids. I came to understand how all the county departments and boards connect including the Kosciusko County Commissioners.
Mitchell: My current and historic knowledge of county government structure and processes will allow me to be the most effective candidate on the first day of taking office and each day thereafter. I understand the laws and rules that govern and that being a commissioner is not just two meetings a month.
Serving as a current member and past president of the council, I have remained active in solving issues by knowing where to search for information, having formed relationships with state departments, having a working relationship with state legislators, being a facilitator and communicator, presenting facts and making informed presentations on issues before voting.
My commitment to good county government in every job I have held has been most visible in serving on numerous council committees. Several of those committees personally asked me to serve, which I feel is a testament to my being a person with integrity, insight and knowledge with a reputation for working hard to see things are done and done well.
I am aware of projects currently in progress or being considered by the commissioners. I feel confident I can be a positive contributor and pledge to research all things being considered before voting to make good decisions for the county.
Scherer: My extensive experience running a successful business for nearly two decades has honed my leadership, financial management and decision-making skills, providing me with a strong foundation to serve as county commissioner. My service on non-profit boards such as Joe's Kids and the Noble County Economic Development Commission (county where my business was located) has deepened my understanding of community needs, collaboration and strategic planning. These experiences have also strengthened my commitment to ethical leadership, rooted in my faith and dedication to making our community better for all residents.
What sets me apart as the best candidate for commissioner is not just my skills and experience, but also my unwavering commitment to accessibility and responsiveness. I plan to have consistent office hours in the courthouse, ensuring that I am always available to listen to constituents' concerns, seek input and work collaboratively to address challenges facing our county. My resilience in overcoming challenges in life underscores my dedication to persevering in the face of adversity, a quality essential for effective governance.
My blend of business acumen, community involvement, ethical values, accessibility and perseverance uniquely qualifies me to serve as county commissioner and make meaningful, positive impacts on Kosciusko County's future.
2. What do you see as the most important function of a county commissioner and why?
Baumgartner: The most important function is caring enough for and about Kosciusko County and our growing population. Then you will listen, research and adopt the best policies staying within the county budget.
Mitchell: There is more than one “most important function” for commissioners since the responsibilities are widely diverse.
The responsibility for road and bridge planning impacts all county residents and is shared with the county highway department. Working to continue to improve county roads should always be a priority!
Promoting economic development is a vital function that requires research to understand the full cost for projects and the value to be returned to the county. To be responsible, all parties representing the county should know all the financial data involved with any project before supporting projects that could cause county financial liability, which I pledge to do.
While budget preparation can be delegated, commissioners are responsible for preparing, understanding, and monitoring spending for numerous county budgets under their control. I pledge to take seriously the preparation of those budgets under the responsibility of the commissioners and to work as a team to make those budgets be a true reflection of necessary expenditures.
Long-range plans must be created with detailed financial information being provided so the plans can be achieved. A plan is only as good as the facts that are included.
Scherer: The critical function of a county commissioner encompasses effective community advocacy, outstanding constituency services and robust overall leadership. Community advocacy entails actively engaging with residents, comprehending their needs and championing solutions that enhance critical areas such as infrastructure, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability. Exceptional constituency services involve being highly accessible, responsive and accountable to residents' inquiries and concerns, thereby fostering trust, transparency and active participation within the community. Strong overall leadership encompasses setting a clear vision for the county's development, fostering collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders, making informed and equitable decisions and inspiring collective action towards shared goals.
By prioritizing these core functions, commissioners can ensure that county governance remains responsive, inclusive and dedicated to improving the overall quality of life for all residents. This approach not only strengthens community engagement but also fosters sustainable growth and prosperity while addressing the evolving needs and challenges facing the county.
3. How important is it that the county commissioners be transparent to the public, and what’s your overall view on government transparency?
Baumgartner: My duty, if elected to Northern District Kosciusko County commissioner, will be to uphold the rules I am sworn to protect, serve all the people of this county to the best of my ability and work to chane some of those rules for the betterment of our county.
Mitchell: Commissioners should be transparent with all their personal business involvement by completing the conflict-of-interest form as required by law. Perception is reality in the public’s eye. The public is entitled to know that elected officials are acting on behalf of the county’s interest and not their own personal interest. If there is a conflict of interest, the person involved should declare they have a conflict or appearance of potential conflict and should have no input in the discussion to sway the decision.
In general, transparency of all county finances are open public records. It is important to share all the facts related to issues with the public. Serving on the council, I work hard to provide facts related to discussions so myself, the public and other council members can be informed on issues.
The Department of Local Government Finance Gateway website (https://gateway.ifionline.org/) has a great deal of county data available including employee compensation, budgets, hearing dates, annual reports and much more. The county website at www.kcgov.com under Beacon displays all information related to properties with a link to maps. Under the county website’s general menu, the auditor provides lists of all checks issued by month. With all that being said, I believe the county does well with the information transparency.
Scherer: Transparency in government, especially at the county commissioner level, is of utmost importance for fostering trust and accountability within the community. Without transparency, there can be a significant erosion of public trust, leading to increased skepticism and disengagement among citizens. It is crucial for county commissioners to operate with near-total transparency to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the community rather than hidden agendas.
While certain aspects of governmental operations may require confidentiality, such as in negotiations with businesses, overall transparency should prevail to maintain public confidence. Citizens deserve access to information about policies, budgets and decision-making processes to hold elected officials accountable and participate meaningfully in civic affairs.
As someone running for county commissioner, my commitment to transparency signals a proactive approach to building trust and promoting open governance, which are fundamental pillars of a healthy democracy. Transparency not only enhances credibility but also facilitates better collaboration and informed decision-making for the benefit of all stakeholders.