Powerful jobs, powerful votes

April 29--Many candidates are running for commissioner and council seats in Ripley and Franklin counties (please see box). Both positions wield a lot of power, so voters need to explore which persons will do the best jobs.

"When there are multiple candidates, the primary is the place they select the candidate to represent them in the fall election. It's very important that you educate yourself on all the candidates," believes Robert Reiners, Sunman, Ripley County District 1 commissioner who is retiring after 16 years in the position.

Tom Wilson, 17-year Franklin County District 3 commissioner, stresses, "Your county council is very, very important. It is the fiscal body that deals with the money and finances. The commissioners, of course, spend the money and take care of the roads. It's very important they both work together in unity to have a well-run county."

He suggests voters should "call the candidates and find our why they're running and what their views are on various topics."

The economy and road conditions are the top problems Wilson faces. He reflects, "In a county like Franklin, it's pretty rural ... and very low industry for a tax base. Expenses keep going up and revenues do not." He says some decisions are made about "everyday life" topics -- "guns, religion and national issues."

When asked about feedback from constituents, Wilson remembers a Nativity scene on the courthouse lawn "was a big deal .... One person complained. Everybody else was in favor of it." Other hot-button topics range from potholes to "Are we going to raise taxes?"

The No. 1 issue for Ripley County Commissioners is insuring a balanced budget, "one of the most important things any county can have," according to Reiners. The others that stand out are EMS and paramedics; economic development; road repair money (which comes from gas taxes. "We get whatever the state gives us. Definitely it's hard to make the repairs you want to make and keep the equipment in good order to maintain the roads"); and health insurance for county employees ("It constantly goes up. We try to be as fair as we can with employees" about their contributions).

He adds, "The most complaints, truthfully, are road repairs. If the roads are in pretty good shape, the people seem pretty happy."

The time commitment needed to be a commissioner? "Really, it's 24/7," Reiners reports. "A lot of times I get calls at home in the late evening or early morning. A call from 911 (might say) 'There's a tree down somewhere from high winds.' Sometimes I go out myself or I call the highway garage and call somebody else to go." When an electrical line is down, "it gets lengthy. You could be out all night long."

He bases his in-between meetings research on the agenda. "I try and find out ... what's going to come before us. I like to be educated on it so I have answers for them when they come in."

Wilson estimates he spends close to 30 hours a week dealing with duties. "If I'm not at the government center, I'm on the phone with our commissioners' secretary (Carol Westerman) or the county attorney." Because Wilson oversees county roads, "I get 50 phone calls a day from there," he says, perhaps slightly exaggerating. If research needs to be done, many times that's assigned to Westerman.

Reiners had two experiences before his tenure that provided decent training for a governmental role. He was asked to be president of Citizens Against Rumpke Expansion and was a liaison with an Indianapolis attorney. He also served on the Ripley County Area Planning Commission for three years, boning up on planning and zoning rules. "There's a lot to learn and I'm still learning."

When asked about his training, Wilson says, "The other two commissioners, Lou Linkel and Bob Brack, took me under their wings and taught me a lot."

How do commissioners and council members work together? To understand what council members are up to, "I usually attend almost all the council meetings" and three or four days of council budget hearings, Reiners says.

Wilson observes frankly that the two groups "should work hand in hand. It used to be that way. Over the last few years, we hardly work together. It's not cohesive at all."

Each commissioners president has advice for freshmen commissioners. Reiners suggests they attend as many types of county meetings as possible -- commissioners, council and planning and zoning -- "so they have a fairly decent knowledge of what they're facing." Wilson urges, "Do your homework. Research stuff. Know what's important to the people of the county and how you're going to reach that goal. Try to be truthful and honest and do what you say you're going to do. Of course, there's always room to change your mind."

Voting on council contenders is equally vital. "You have to elect the right people who have the right experience. to do those jobs," says Bill McDonald, Osgood, Ripley County District 3 council member. He won't be on the ballot this go-around. The Ripley County Sheriff's Office jail commander cannot run again due to a recent state law barring county workers from holding a county office.

Hollie Maxie, Bath, Franklin County District 2 council member, points out, "These positions have the power in the county to raise your property taxes, create a wheel tax and increase local income tax."

According to her, "The most important issue I think the current council is facing is the reductions in the county general fund. I have been working with members of the park board to help them receive more revenue."

McDonald favors discovering how other counties manage their budgets. "Are we really spending too much money in one area and not enough in another? .... Let's adapt other counties' best practices." Because council members must discern "what is essentially needed and what is wanted" for each county department, they should be familiar with each office's operation.

The time commitment to be a council member is less than a commissioner. McDonald, a four-year councilman, reports, "Officially, you have one meeting a month," but a couple days prior he reviews the agenda and also might have to get up to speed on certain issues. "The big time comes in the fall when you start preparing for the following year's budget. That will take several weeks." In Ripley County, a budget committee meets several times before making recommendations to the full council.

"I do a lot of research on issues between meetings, talking to the people involved and the public," says Maxie, who served as the council's first female president in 2009-10. Because she is the Franklin County Highway Department secretary, the 12-year council member also must step down.

McDonald's business background, owning companies employing from 10 to 500, prepped him for this managerial role. Once elected, he attended an Association of Indiana Counties one-day training session. "It was very helpful."

Maxie recalls, "Most of the training I have received has been hands-on." Like Wilson, Linkel and Brack also mentored her. "They taught me a lot about how local government works. They taught me that my decisions on council would not only affect me, but the whole population of Franklin County, so not to take a decision too lightly."

Commissioners and council members primarily interface at budget hearings, according to McDonald. "It is like the left hand working with the right hand. You've got to work as a team together for the county." Is there ever friction? He admits, "We've had our ups and downs. We resolve our differences and move on."

During her early years on the council, Maxie believed the two panels were working together well. "Now I am not so sure that is happening."

She concludes, "The best advice that I could give to the person who would win my position is not to act too quickly on a decision." McDonald recommends, "Set aside personality conflicts and always think what's best for the county and the taxpayers."

Debbie Blank can be contacted at [email protected] or 812-934-4343, Ext. 113.

--In Franklin County, Republicans voting in the primary will choose between Scott McDonough and Eric Roberts</person> for District 1 commissioner; M.P. Allen and Tom Linkel for District 2 commissioner; and Aaron Leffingwell, Curtis Ward and Jimmy Webb for the District 4 council seat. Democrats have one choice to make: Chester Ball or Dale Maxie for District 1 commissioner. These candidates are unopposed: Republicans Joe Sizemore, District 1 council; Keith Hall, District 2 council; and Jeff Koch, District 3 council; and Democrats Louis Fasbinder, District 2 commissioner; and Carroll Lanning, District 4 council. --In Ripley County, competing for the District 1 commissioner seat are four Republicans: Bill Flannery, Jay Gayheart, Robert Linville and Stan Wiedeman. Republicans Chad Pindell and David Simon both want to be the District 3 councilman. Running unopposed on the primary's Republican ballot are Ron Decker, District 1 council; and Patricia Smith, District 2 council. These Democrats have no challengers in the primary: William Dramann, District 1 council; and Edward Armbrecht, District 4 council.

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