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Tony Cain
Editor’s note: We asked the four Republican candidates for county commissioner and the three candidates for county council the same set of questions. The following are their responses in their own words. They are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
White County Commissioner Candidates Tony Cain
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: People should vote for me because I am an honest, caring person ready to listen to the citizens of White County. I will not be able to meet everyone’s needs and wishes, but will make decisions that I see best fit in the county’s best interest. I have been attending the commissioners and the drainage board meetings for several years, not just because I am a candidate seeking this office. I am the best qualified person to be on the drainage board. With drainage being a priority issue among farmers and landowners, my 25 years of professional experience will be a huge asset to everyone.
Q: What are the top two issues facing White County?
A: Making a profit for farmers and housing.
Q: What would you do about these issues?
A: The best way for the county to help the farming community to survive is to allow them to use their land to bring in more revenue. Commodity prices are below the cost of production. So allowing farmers to use their land for other income such as building large hog barns or allowing renewable energy or building bio-reactors as examples, will help make the farm more sustainable. With that being said, the landowner and the companies involved need to follow all state and county laws and regulations.
The county has already set in motion to achieve more affordable homes and I will see to it that we continue that path.
Q: If elected, what would you like to accomplish and how?
A: After talking with some employees, retired employees and department heads, I would like to see a rise in the payscale.
Also, I want to make the UTV’s (side by sides) street legal. These vehicles are used by so many whether it is for farming, construction or personal use.
Q: Tell us about yourself. What is something voters should know about you?
A: I am a White county native and resident all of my 68 years. I have over 21 years of farming and over 25 years of drainage and construction business experience. I try my best to see the best in people and not tear anyone down. I have an amazing wife, Michelle, and 4 sons, 3 who are married and 1 to be married in June and 6 grandchildren.
Dave Davis
David Davis
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: A vote for David Davis is a vote for thoughtful plans to prosper White County with a solid direction based on the concerns of the people at the forefront. As a successful business owner and lifelong member of this county I will set limits on solar, keep in check county spending and be a voice of truth and accountability for the people.
Q: What are the top two issues facing White County?
A: By far the top issue facing our county is industrial SOLAR. Unrestricted waves of industrial solar plants are overwhelming our productive, prime agricultural soils with dangerous, unknown, financial gambles.
County spending is also a top issue facing our county. Taxpayer dollars have been thrown at multiple county projects that exceed original budgets with limited public knowledge.
Q: What would you do about these issues?
A: In regards to solar, people want their concerns addressed. We need to implement a (2) year moratorium on industrial solar projects to provide ample time to establish solid county regulations, emergency response protocol and provide a better understanding of solar in our county. In regards to county spending, we need to change the way we do business on large county projects by pursuing different options in bidding, general contractors, budget control and overall project oversight. Our county needs to use common sense business practices managing taxpayer money for the good of the entire county.
Q: If elected, what would you like to accomplish and how?
A: As your White County commissioner I would adjust commissioner meeting schedules to a more advantageous time, to allow for better public involvement and participation. I strongly believe in a government led by the people and I will listen to your concerns, apply county policies and make decisions with thoughtful consideration for the best outcomes for our county.
Q: Tell us about yourself. What is something voters should know about you?
A: Growing up on a farm south of Reynolds, I have developed a love for White county and the people who live here. After attending Purdue University and receiving a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, I returned to our family farm. I grew our hog operation, landscape business, Becks Seed business as well as my own family to be successful, strong contributors to White county. I enjoy listening and talking with others in our community and look forward to playing an important role in guiding White County into the future.
Andy Federer
Andy Federer
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: As a life-long White County resident, I am invested in the future of White County. I graduated Purdue University with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 2009 before returning to work on the family farm and operate my trucking company. As commissioner, I will use my education and experience as a farmer and business owner to help lead White County to be a place future generations want to return to. I am honest, hardworking, and open to new ideas. I intend to use those qualities as commissioner to help serve the public’s interest.
Q: What are the top two issues facing White County?
A: The top two issues I see facing White County are renewable energy and housing. White County has been a leader in renewable energy, but more can be done to provide transparency and protection for property. Currently, the housing options within the county are limited and there are potential alternatives that can be utilized to create a solution.
Q: What would you do about these issues?
A: I think that increased transparency with the process of how a renewable project comes into the county is a major factor. Getting public notice to surrounding residents, offering public hearings before any project is approved, and working toward increased setbacks would be priorities. These measures would help so that residents not involved in a project can be heard and avoid being surrounded, risking loss of property value.
In order to create housing for families looking to move to White County, I’d like to focus on utilizing the existing infrastructure of vacant and abandoned residential buildings with the help of grants and investors. This will also serve to enhance our communities to draw in and retain residents, and increase surrounding property values.
Q: If elected, what would you first like to accomplish, and how?
A: I would first like to educate myself further to better understand the decisions that have been made and why those decisions were made. It is easy to make assumptions about past decisions without knowing all of the facts. I’d like to begin working on ways to create transparency and provide avenues for the public to better understand the direction the commissioners are taking the county as the decisions are being discussed. Keeping the ball rolling on projects in progress with regard to housing will be vital to creating spaces to bring more people into the county and to retain the next generation of entrepreneurs and employees.
Q: Tell us about yourself. What is something voters should know about you?
A: As a farmer and business owner, I have a good understanding of the fiscal responsibility that running government business will take. I have served on public committees and finance councils, which have prepared me for such a position at the county level. My wife is a child welfare attorney and assists on the farm when she can. Together we have two young children who enjoy camping, playing sports, and playing around the farm. I enjoy raising my family here and hope that I can make an impact.
Kaleb Pass
Kaleb D. Pass
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: White County residents should vote for me because I am a conservative family and businessman with 25 years of experience being self-employed and operating my own business. This experience has given me a solid background in finance, logistics, human resources, fiscal responsibility, efficiency, prioritization, problem solving and many other attributes that would equip me as a candidate to fulfill the required responsibilities of commissioner. In conducting my day to day business, I have gained a working knowledge in legal contractual agreements as well as County building and zoning processes. I promise to make informed decisions that represent all residents fairly to the best of my ability.
Q: What are the top two issues facing White County?
A: I believe two of the top issues facing White County are the need for renewable energy regulation (including carbon sequestration) and managing county spending. These issues are very important to me landing them at the top of my priority list. In talking with many of you, I have listened to all of your shared concerns in these areas as well.
Q: What would you do about these issues?
A: To address renewable energy, I would start by putting a two-year moratorium on wind and solar farms allowing time to see how they perform and what future changes occur in this rapidly developing area. Then our County government will have more knowledge to aid in developing the regulation it needs to address its existing renewable energy farms and decide how it will handle any future requests. I would move to disallow carbon sequestration altogether. As for managing county spending, I would start with addressing our payroll issues to help ensure our County can retain and hire the quality individuals that are crucial to keeping White County positioned upward as we move into the future. In general, as a County we need to re-evaluate our spending priorities and better distribute our budget.
Q: If elected, what would you first like to accomplish, and how?
A: The first thing I would like to accomplish is addressing our payroll issues to assure our County departments have the resources to hire and retain qualified individuals. I would do this by educating myself on the budget side of things to see exactly where and how we can capture the necessary revenue to secure funds in order to pay our employees competitive wages. This is a crucial priority as without the qualified personnel in place it will not be possible to be successful in completing all other goals.
Q: Tell us about yourself. What is something voters should know about you?
A: I am a White County native and graduate of Twin Lakes High School and Ivy Tech State College in Lafayette, obtaining a business management and marketing degree. My wife, Michelle, and I have been married for 19 years and we have a daughter, Kora and a son, Colton. For over 25 years, God has blessed me with starting, continually developing and operating a successful business, which the main interests include; general construction, excavating, farming, property management and real estate. My motivation for running for White County commissioner is purely driven by my desire to serve the public and take a turn at maintaining, developing and improving the wonderful community in which I was raised.
Joanne Mosher
White County Council candidates Joanne Mosher
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: My name is Joanne Mosher, and I have been asked to run for White County Council – At Large. I am a strong conservative Christian patriot who is ready to shake things up in the local government. I am not afraid to go against the grain and to say NO and stand up for We the People.
Q: What are the top two issues facing White County?
A: When talking with other citizens of the county, there are two major concerns. First, the Green New Deal and rural economic development has invaded our county with solar, wind, and a carbon sequestration pipeline.
Second, complacency of our county spending is rampant, which is consistently increasing our property taxes.
Q: What would you do about these issues?
A: As a Soil Scientist and a conservative farmer’s wife, I am completely against the Green New Deal and will stand up against these incoming projects, and from a council perspective say NO to any tax abatements (property tax breaks) on any of these projects.
As a business owner and fellow taxpayer, I will evaluate the county budget and vote to significantly reduce county spending, so that we can likewise reduce our property taxes. Yes, that means government spending and programs must cut back or even be cut, but we as citizens have done just that in our budgets and businesses, so our government must also.
Q: If elected, what would you first like to accomplish, and how?
A: If elected or not, I will encourage all of us citizens to get informed and involved with what is happening at our local level of government. Many issues and spending are passed through our local government meetings, and We the People need to wake up and communicate our input and be heard. The County Commissioners and County Council meet on select Monday Mornings, which is not convenient for average busy citizens. To get your voice heard, I ask you, the citizens, when it is convenient for you to come to your County Meetings and strongly promote your involvement in the direction of our great county.
Q: Tell us about yourself. What is something voters should know about you?
A: I have been married to Paul Mosher, my high school sweetheart, over 25 years, a homeschool mom of 4 Kids, all have been 4H active, 2 sons in the Army National Guard, a new grandma, a local business owner (our family farm, Holy Cow Farm Fresh, and Mosher Soil Consulting), an Indiana Registered Professional Soil Scientist, Twin Lakes graduate ’95, Purdue graduate BS ’99 MS ‘01, born in Monticello, and reside North of Monon. I am a strong Conservative Christian Patriot, who stands for capitalism in our great republic and who will not give up, nor surrender. I am for We the People of White County, Indiana waking up and getting involved with Our County, Our State, and Our Country.
Matthew A. McKean
Matthew A. McKean
Q: Why vote for me?
A: I believe that people should vote for me because I will represent their interests and their tax dollars in the most efficient way possible. Because I share the core values of many, if not most, of our residents and I believe in responsible spending. I will make informed decisions, staying within our means, to provide them with the best quality of life that I possibly can. And, if it’s not within our means, but is a clear need for the people, I will work with departments to seek out whatever funding sources are available.
Q: What are the top two issues facing the county?
A: 1. Troubling trends in our spending habits, based on what the general fund can support in the future, combined with the inevitable fact that two of our Commissioners next year will need time to get acclimated to the realities of the position. 2. A lack of population growth (and an aging population) based on a multi-factor equation of Optimal housing inventory, desirable areas and Quality of Life. But, I would also put aging/insufficient infrastructure and community involvement as sub-issues to both of those. It’s a very complicated question, and if we’re answering honestly, it doesn’t just have one or two clear answers or solutions. Things like Renewable Energy are getting the headlines, but it’s not the real top issue that the people are (or will be) facing, and, it is the easiest issue to address. In fact, the current administration has already made commitments and progress towards addressing the issue that has been brought to us by the people.
Q: What would I do about them?
A: I want to make sure we are more carefully examining the county spending. It’s OK to table items and do the research needed. If the State continues to take away our decision-making ability and revenue sources, while at the same time, the inflation of goods, services and salaries continues, then we will find ourselves jumping from a small issue to a real problem, very quickly. What I won’t do is vote in favor of decisions that will pass the burdens to the taxpayer. The increased property values and fees for city services are already cutting into the pockets of the average citizen way too much. We then need to do everything possible to make the area more desirable to people; adding housing and residents. Increase residents, create opportunities for new businesses, and capitalize on the county’s potential for expanded tourism revenue; these will be key to affording the services that we’ve grown accustomed to without tax levy increases.
Q: If elected, what is the first thing I want to accomplish?
A: Working with our Auditor and the Department Heads to formulate a more detailed reporting system for budget requests; finish and review our salary and job description study for possible changes; have a detailed inventory done, county wide, for vehicles and large equipment purchases; work with Economic Development to hire a Tourism/Welcome Center Marketing Coordinator, and also help them facilitate/pursue regional partnerships and any potential grant opportunities, through programs like READI and organizations like KIRPC; and, help commissioners and department heads spend in the most responsible ways possible.
Q: What should the voters know about me?
A: I love my home. I love the people I share it with. My family is here, and I want it to stay here. I want it to hold onto the values that make up its character, but also be a place that my kids and their kids want to come back to; because they love it as much as I did. I realize that in order for that to be a reality, we have to work harder at keeping it up, keeping it desirable, and be open minded about possibilities. I chose to run because I want to leave my community better than when I came in, and I always make decisions based on what I feel is the best possible choice to ensure that that happens.
Councilman Art Anderson, running for reelection, did not send a response.
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