April 07, 2008 12:04 pm
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Editor’s Note: Submissions appear as the candidates submitted them without editing.Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Except where noted, questionnaires are only being published for contested races. W. Eric Hedrick
• AGE: 38
• EDUCATION: Jeffersonville High School Graduate, 1987; U.S. Army Basic Training, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; U.S. Army Infantry/Paratrooper School, Ft. Benning, GA; U.S. Army Military Intelligence School, Ft. Huachuca, AZ; JFK Special Warfare Center Academy, Ft. Bragg, NC; U.S. Army Spanish Linguist School, Ft Bragg, NC; U.S. Army Combat Medic Course, Ft Bragg; U.S. Army Primary Leadership Development, Ft Bragg, NC; U.S. Army Military Intelligence Advanced School, Ft. Huachuca, AZ; U.S. Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Ft. Bragg, NC; Indiana University Southeast, 121 Accumulated Credit Hours; Indiana Law Enforcement Academy; IFSAC 24 Hour & Basic Firefighter; IFSAC Certification Firefighter I, II; IFSAC Fire Medic; IFSAC NIMS Awareness/Operations; IFSAC Hazmat Awareness/Operations; IFSAC Fire Instructor I,II,III Indiana Certification
• WORK EXPERIENCE: U.S. Army Military Intelligence Agent/Paratrooper; Operation Just Cause, Panama 1989; Worked with a Special Operations Unit conducting facility raids; Conducted Intelligence Interrogations; Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, 1990; Conducted cross border Intelligence Source Operations; Performed US troop facility Threat Assessments.
Acted as Intelligence Liaison to 6th Armor Division of French Army.
Jeffersonville City Recreation/Athletic Director; Jeffersonville City Police Officer (SWAT Member, K-9 Officer); Jeffersonville City Firefighter, IAFF Local #558 Union President
• FAMILY NOTES: “My wife of 18 years, Toni and I are both Jeffersonville High School graduates. Outside of my time in the Army, Toni and I have spent our entire lives in Clark County where we are now raising our 7 year-old daughter, Haylee. Haylee is a first grader at Bridgepoint Elementary School, and is the care taker of Weatherburn, our family dog.”
1) Why are you running for this office?
“I am running for County Commissioner because I believe government can still work as it was designed to work: An elected official making decisions with the best interest of the citizens in mind, not special interest groups. I am eager to accept the challenge of improving the quality of life for the residents of Clark County, while improving the efficiency of our local government.”
2) What is the most important issue facing this position and what is your plan to resolve it?
“There are several issues facing the county such as; reforming the zoning laws, maximizing the economic opportunities that the bridges will bring, and making County roads and bridges as safe as possible for our families to travel on. However, I believe the most important issue that the County is currently facing is the lack of holding developers accountable for their actions. Bonds on developments are being allowed to expire at the County tax payer’s expense. As your County Commissioner, I will work to tighten the reigns on these developers to ensure that bonds are not allowed to expire before developer’s obligations are met. I will also sponsor an ordinance that ends the issuance of building permits to those developers who have not complied with the County’s standards in previous developments. No more “deadbeat builders” in Clark County.”
3) What unique contribution will you make to local office?
“I have had the privilege of observing local government operate over the last 14 years and have gained a lot of insight from working as a Recreation Director, Police Officer, and presently as a Firefighter. I offer a unique new perspective on local government issues and a much needed new sense of cooperation between Commissioners. As a Military Veteran, I also offer a unique perspective on some of the challenges our Clark County Veterans (9,400 Veterans in Clark County) are facing in regards to obtaining their benefits and getting the assistance they need. Our veterans deserve the full support from our County Government for the sacrifices they and their families have made.”
4) Have you ever been convicted of a non-traffic court crime in the United States? If so, please explain all relevant instances.
“No.”
READER-SUBMITTED QUESTIONS
What do you think should be the local role and responsibility in dealing with illegal immigration?
“The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, prohibits Clark County from imposing civil or criminal sanctions upon those that employ illegal aliens. Until local businesses stop circumventing Federal law and employing illegal aliens, Clark County, as well as every municipality in the United States, will continue to face the mounting immigration problem. Locally, the obligation lies within our law enforcement agencies to report any illegal aliens.”
Do you consider yourself a progressive? How would you define progress? What gets left behind in your vision of progress?
“I define progress as; advancing economic development, while delivering an efficient government, reducing the taxpayer’s burden, and improving our infrastructure to improve the quality of life for the residents of Clark County. For progress to occur we must start taking responsibility for our mistakes and oversights, and demand accountability from our workers and contractors. Also I believe to have true progress we must maintain an open line of communications with the county constituents. As Commissioner I will encourage public input and feedback to monitor our progress. Please feel free to call me with any concerns or suggestions, 502-376-2897 (Cell), 285-9770 (Home). “Good Old Boy Politics and wasteful government spending get left behind in my plan for progress.”
We live in the county in an unincorporated subdivision. We have neighbors who target shoot and have even shot a deer while sitting on their deck. There is no law to keep them from doing this as long as the target meets certain standards. Is there anyone willing to stand up for us and make it illegal to discharge a firearm within a certain distance of a home or do we have to wait for someone to be shot?
“If someone is acting recklessly with a firearm, local law enforcement should be called and a charge of criminal recklessness can be investigated. According to IC 35-42-2-2(b) A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally performs an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person commits criminal recklessness. This is a Class C felony when committed by shooting a firearm into a place where people are likely to gather. The key here being; “no intent” is necessary for a charge of criminal recklessness to apply. I don’t want to deny reasonable, law abiding, county residents the opportunity to hunt or target practice on their property, but we must be safe and reasonable when firearms are involved or deal with the consequences of a criminal recklessness charge.”
Many roads and streets throughout the county are poorly lit. Roadway markers are often absent or indiscernible and, overall, our local area is dangerous to travel at night. Streetlights are an expensive remedy, embedded roadway reflectors and/or reflective road paint to indicate lane markings and roadside borders would save lives and reduce property damage at far less cost. What will you do to remedy this problem?
“I agree with this observation. As your Commissioner, it is one of my priorities to improve the safety of our county roads. I will implement a capital improvement plan based on the current condition and traffic count of our county roads. This will allow the county to improve county roads and not be obligated to a huge expense all at once.”Bob McEwen
• AGE: 44
• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: 1982 Graduate from New Washington High School; 1990 Graduate from University of Louisville with Degree in Education: Licensed to teach K-12.
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “I am employed by the YMCA of Southern Indiana. I have had the pleasure of serving the children and families of Clark County for 25 years as the Associate Executive Director. I take pride in my extensive community service with the following: Clarksville Rotary, Past President and Charter Member; Greater Clark County School Board, President; Leadership Southern Indiana; Clark County Youth Coalition, Past President; IHSAA Basketball Official.”
• FAMILY NOTES: Married 14 years to Kristy Howell with two sons, Bailey and Benett. Son of Bob and Margaret McEwen, Jeffersonville. Sisters Lauri Davis and Cyndi Guenthner, Clarksville. Brothers Tom and Brian, Sellersburg, and John, Jeffersonville.
1) Why are you running for this office?
“I have been very involved in Clark County for a number of years. I have served as the Associate Director at the YMCA of Southern Indiana for 25 years. I am in my second term as a member of the Greater Clark County School Board. I have been an advocate for our youth as a coach, referee, and as a father. I believe we need our next Commissioner to have the will and ability to provide leadership and direction for the years ahead, a leader that will be “Focused on the Future.” I am running because I have the will and ability to this job. I will work closely with the other Commissioners to guide us at a time where dwindling tax revenues, increased service needs, and environmental issues must be addressed with honesty and candor.”
2) What is the most important issue facing this position and what is your plan to resolve it?
“The Indiana Association of County Commissioners has proposed to eliminate the County Offices of Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Surveyor, and Assessor and in turn have all these functions appointed rather than elected. The Association also proposes to do away with the County Commissioners and have only one Chief Executive, like a Mayor of the County. I am staunchly opposed to this proposal. I believe that would put too much power into the hands of a few and not reflect the will of the people.
The Clark County Commissioners by a two-to-one vote abandoned mandatory recycling that will reduce the limited life of the Clark County Landfill. At the same time, they have allowed in thousands of tons of out of state garbage into Clark County, also reducing the limited life of the landfill. All three Commissioners plus one of their appointments, control the Solid Waste District Board. In other words, they provide by law the leadership in these efforts. I ask- what leadership?
“I will pr0vide direction and real leadership in the void left by poor decision making. I will work to use public input as well as advice from other County Office Holders in order to come up with a plan that works for the entire county. Real leadership is not easy. I will provide the time and talent to get the job done while allowing public voices to be heard.”
3) What unique contribution will you make to local office?
“In my time involved with the Greater Clark County School Board, I have found it is difficult to be too unique. It takes time to digest information, work with others to promote a plan and to then carry it out. The County Commissioners are each unique, however, each by himself can do nothing meaningful. It will take discussion, public input, and leadership to arrive at a decision. I will speak up for my constituents and my position, but will be mindful that I am only one vote. However, when necessary, I will speak up for a minority position as I remember that what I say and do represents what people expect from our Commissioners.”
4) Have you ever been convicted of a non-traffic court crime in the United States? If so, please explain all relevant instances.
“No, I have never been convicted of any unlawful act.”
What do you think should be the local role and responsibility in dealing with illegal immigration?
“I, like many in Clark County, have witnessed a large and growing presence of Hispanics in our area. While I believe this is primarily a Federal and State issue, the fallout from increased services is affecting our schools and communities. I think the role of a local leader is to express these concerns in a unified voice to those in higher offices in order that we can all deal with the problem. Outside of monitoring the issue and seeing to it that local tax dollars go to employ only those that are legal citizens, I feel this is an issue better left to Congress and our State Officials.”
Do you consider yourself a progressive? How would you define progress? What gets left behind in your vision of progress?
“Yes, I am progressive. I think of myself as someone that looks out the front of the windshield and on occasion, is mindful to look in the rearview mirror to remember how I got there. I would define progress as having set goals by getting people involved in the decision making. If elected, I will be only one Commissioner vote; however, I will be a vote.
“Progress is the people's business: zoning, land use, development, and regulation. How we develop new homes and businesses in an orderly manner will require much public input. Sometimes what gets left behind is one person's opinion. Although one's voice must be heard, ultimately the majority rules.”
We live in the county in an unincorporated subdivision. We have neighbors who target shoot and have even shot a deer while sitting on their deck. There is no law to keep them from doing this as long as the target meets certain standards. Is there anyone willing to stand up for us and make it illegal to discharge a firearm within a certain distance of a home or do we have to wait for someone to be shot?
“It is certainly dangerous to have anyone fire a gun in the direction of another person's home contrary to what the law says. Many towns and cities have regulations that prohibit the discharging of a gun inside the city's limits. If elected, I will propose such a limit within reason. Many areas in the county are capable of allowing hunting, target practice, and other safe uses of firearms. But, I do see good reason to limit the distance wherein that would be allowed.”
Many roads and streets throughout the county are poorly lit. Roadway markers are often absent or indiscernible and, overall, our local area is dangerous to travel at night. Streetlights are an expensive remedy, embedded roadway reflectors and/or reflective road paint to indicate lane markings and roadside borders would save lives and reduce property damage at far less cost. What will you do to remedy this problem?
“Clark County has a past of under- utilized roads. Many of this county's roads are merely paved wagon tracks whose history goes back many years. Meanwhile, modern development scattered around the county had amplified the problem of these roads. The State Highway system is joined by many under designed roads to many of our better neighborhoods. We must do a better job of demanding that developers share the cost of roadway improvement, including signage, lighting, and better lane marking. I will work with the other Commissioners and the County Council to enact a plan to identify the most dangerous conditions and address them with a plan for safety. One of the priorities of the county must be to provide safe travel for its citizens.”Ed Meyer
• AGE: 56
• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: Graduate of Indiana University, Bachelor of Science in Education 1973; Indiana University, Master of Science in Education 1975; Participation as county commissioner in courses sponsored by Association of Indiana Counties, Indiana Association of County Commissioners, and Purdue Road School
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Clark County Commissioner 1996-2000 & 2004-present; Clark County Council, 1992-1996; Teacher for 35 years- 29 of those years have been spent teaching Clark County's youth at River Valley Middle School in Jeffersonville; Greater Clark Education Association, Member; Greater Clark Education Association, Past President 2002-2006; Indiana State Teachers Association, Member; National Education Association, Member; Board of Directors Clark County Teachers Credit Union, Member; Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Selection Member; Clark County Council, Elected member 1992-1996; Clark County Commissioner 1996-2000 & 2004-present; Clark County Men's Democrat Club; Wall Street United Methodist Church, Member & Church Trustee; Methodist Men's Club; Jeffersonville Breakfast Optimist Club, Member & Past President; IHSAA official: basketball, track, volleyball; River Valley coach: basketball, cross country, track
• FAMILY NOTES: Married to Debbie Meyer for 31 years. Three children — Brittney married to Bill Wardlaw-Brittney is a teacher at Parkwood. Brandon operates a lawn mowing and tent rental business locally. Bryan a junior at Indiana University in the Kelly School of Business. Parents: Charles Meyer and Wanda Antz Meyer (deceased)
1) Why are you running for this office?
“My 35 years of experience in the education field have given me insight, passion and vision to provide a good quality of life, second to none, for future generations in Clark County. It is crucial that work and focus continue so Clark County can attract industry and businesses promoting jobs that our citizens want made available to them. In addition, work must continue which will provide citizens affordable and accessible health care, education, transportation, cultural opportunities, and a government of the people. In my four years as a member of the Clark County Council, and my eight years as County Commissioner, the work I have accomplished has kept each of these initiatives as a focus. I want to continue the diligence these areas require, while maintaining focus on the roles and duties required of the commissioners office. Information about my goals and accomplishments as your county commissioner may be accessed at: www.meyerforcommissioner.com”
2) What is the most important issue facing this position and what is your plan to resolve it?
“The role of a county commissioner has taken on more responsibility as the county grows and people turn to elected government officials to help maneuver government. Major focus for a commissioner includes: oversight of county roads and bridges, local property taxes, county contracts, county zoning, addressing the state and federal mandates the county must work through with little or no funding, and county drainage concerns that must be addressed.
“A county planner would serve as a visionary for the county and its citizens. This role would provide guidance and a vision to meet the needs of a growing and changing Clark County. A planner would seek to address and meet the needs related to those areas I have previously listed. The county planner's role would be to create a plan to bring business and industry that provide jobs that citizen's desire, in addition to generating a tax base that would give Clark County economic security.
“Presently I am working in conjunction with our Clark County Economic Development Board and One Southern Indiana to keep this issue in the forefront. I have made available funds that would allow for a county planner. My work will continue until a highly qualified person is found for Clark County. Because of this progress and the promise of a future filled with economic development and stability it will contribute to the retention and desire of our youth to remain in Clark County and raise families.”
3) What unique contribution will you make to local office?
“I bring the combination of the skills I have acquired as an educator and experience in government leadership to the position of county commissioner. I will continue my work with One Southern Indiana and the Board of River Ridge Commerce Center to explore development opportunities for the greatest single parcel of property in the Midwest, River Ridge Commerce Center. The river ridge property offers unlimited opportunity for Clark County with the 5,680 acres that are the county's to develop. I will continue to pursue the recruitment of business and industry to all areas of Clark County.”
4) Have you ever been convicted of a non-traffic court crime in the United States? If so, please explain all relevant instances.
“None.”
READER-SUBMITTED QUESTIONS
What do you think should be the local role and responsibility in dealing with illegal immigration?
“I support State and Federal government efforts in the area of illegal immigration.”
Do you consider yourself a progressive? How would you define progress? What gets left behind in your vision of progress?
“Yes, I feel I have been progressive in my current commissioner role. An example of progress is the acquisition of the property formerly known as the Charlestown Ammunition Plant. There were those who were skeptical and felt that acquisition would never come to fruition, but hard work, persistence and determination made that property available to Clark County. Clark County is now seeing development of the River Ridge property. Progress continues with upgrades that have occurred at the Clark County Regional airport and the electric generating plant which is operated from methane gas captured at the Clark/Floyd Landfill. This progress has been attained while I have served as commissioner. Progress provides unlimited opportunity for all.
“Progress is a vision that is never left behind.”
We live in the county in an unincorporated subdivision. We have neighbors who target shoot and have even shot a deer while sitting on their deck. There is no law to keep them from doing this as long as the target meets certain standards. Is there anyone willing to stand up for us and make it illegal to discharge a firearm within a certain distance of a home or do we have to wait for someone to be shot?
“The Indiana State Conservation Officers serves as the arm of government sworn to enforce the laws of the State of Indiana. Any citizen should contact them if danger is present. The Clark County Sheriff's office may also be contacted to provide assistance. Common sense will never be legislated; citizens should take responsibility to become involved to assist in resolution of problems with other citizens, when appropriate. No citizen should be in harms way because someone is discharging a firearm for recreational use.”
Many roads and streets throughout the county are poorly lit. Roadway markers are often absent or indiscernible and, overall, our local area is dangerous to travel at night. Streetlights are an expensive remedy, embedded roadway reflectors and/or reflective road paint to indicate lane markings and roadside borders would save lives and reduce property damage at far less cost. What will you do to remedy this problem?
“As your commissioner, I continue to address problems relate to safety as it relates to narrow county roads. The county has a road crew whose role is to widen county roads that have been identified because of safety concerns. This road widening crew was instituted three years ago to address the concern raised by citizens as a result of growth in rural areas of our county. To date, 12 miles of county road have been made wider through this work. Our highway department paints and stripes county roads. Presently 25% of our county roads have center and side line markings; however some roads are too narrow to paint. In addition, if these narrow roads were painted, it would place a tremendous liability burden upon the county. We continue to look for ways to make roads safer and to find solutions to the costs that will be generated with safety upgrades. Currently the county does not provide street lights on roads in the unincorporated areas of the county.”
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