A choice for district one county council seat
Both candidates advocate changes
By Debbie Lowe

DePoy

The Carroll County Council will be significantly impacted by the results of the November general election due to the announcement by current council member John Blackburn he would not seek re-election. As a result, two county residents are vying for the position in the general election.

Republican Ron Slavens of Adams Township ran in the May primary without an opponent. However, before the filing deadline arrived, Democrat Richard DePoy threw his hat in the ring for consideration in November.

The Comet sat down with both candidates to allow them the opportunity to share some of their views. Richard DePoy:

R i c h a r d DePoy of J e f f e r s o n Township said he became interested in running for the office because of the impending sewer system that seems to be in the future for many living in Jefferson Township.

"My concern with it is there has been no representation for Carroll County residents," the former Flora precinct committeeman said.

The 71-year-old DePoy said his goal is to make county government as open as possible if he is elected.

"I plan to challenge decisions that seem to be made outside of meetings," he said. "I believe open access to what's going on makes better government."

Slavens

DePoy criticized the current council's practice of holding 8 a.m. meetings.

"The average person with a job cannot make a meeting at that time of day," he said. "I would advocate to change the meeting times. The council should have meetings that are available to the public. And the meetings should be at a regularly scheduled day of the month."

"I am for good government, be it democrat or republican," DePoy said to explain his potential role in the council.

"I could be a benefit to the council because I would be the only Democrat," he continued. "Good government is made up from input from a lot of people."

DePoy said he wants to form study groups or committees comprised of residents outside of the governmental structure to address specific issues.

"Not anyone on the council knows everything about everything," he explained. "Bringing others in who have more knowledge about specific issues is good business and we should rely on those people."

DePoy said the first thing he would do as a new member of the council would be to present an agenda that looks to the future and not be so rooted in the present. He said the council should act on potential issues before a crisis arises.

"The council needs to be involved with all money matters," he said. "I feel like any money spent should be done wisely and prudently."

DePoy questioned if the current council functions for the good of the people. He is not in favor of raising property taxes until a situation is thought out with the help of residents.

"Why should we raise taxes until we are being prudent with what we have?" he questioned when asked about the need for an increase in property taxes to fund a new jail, or improvements to the old one.

"Residents should have information about their property values," he continued. "Why hasn't that information been given to them?"

"And the council should have gotten a hold of the jail meals situation a lot sooner," he added.

DePoy said he is in favor of funding projects with grant money whenever possible, including the jail facility and the sewer for Jefferson Township.

"There isn't nearly enough grant writing being done to fund projects in this county," he said.

"What got me fired up in the first place was the sewer district issue. We definitely need more input with that," he said. "I want people to know the sewer district is a plus...for those who need it," he said.

"All in all, I can be productive on the council by asking questions of my fellow council members," DePoy concluded.

DePoy encouraged voters to contact him with questions and concerns. He can be reached at (765) 588-1457.

"I'd be open to talk to anyone on the phone or in person," he finished. Ron Slavens

Republican Ron Slavens said he has been involved in many Carroll County boards and has the experience needed to help current council m e m b e r s maintain a county-wide perspective - an "overall spending picture" - for county government. Although in general agreement with how the current council manages county money, Slavens offered some differing opinions about how to best handle problems within county departments and the public.

"It's through the appropriations that you control personnel," the Adams Township Trustee Slavens said about the council-mandated county hiring policy. "I'm not a micro-manager."

"I don't agree with the nepotism policy," he added, "but I would uphold it."

Slavens, who has attended some recent council meetings, said the council has a public relations problem and it needs to be addressed.

"You do the public work by letting people speak," he said. "But you don't debate them at the meetings. You can make tough decisions and not offend someone at a meeting."

"I believe in the remonstrance system," he said. "I led a remonstrance against the Twin Lakes School Corporation before. It's the people's right to oppose and I support that," he added.

Slavens said it is always good to have a savings account, but it is premature to plan for a new jail facility. He said he would have voted to table the property tax increase ordinance until a new sheriff is in place and has an opportunity to review the needs of the department with a new vision.

"We need to know where the money is, where it has gone and where it is going before making a decision," he stated.

Slavens said he is "totally against the old jail meals system" and he agrees with the concept of consolidating cell phone service providers to save money.

Slavens said one change he would like to see the council make is to hold meetings on a set day of the month and a set time. He suggested evening meetings be held on the same days, either before or after, as commissioners' evening meetings.

"That way, taxpayers can plan to come to both meetings and not have to make two special trips for them," he explained.

Slavens agrees with his opponent about keeping government meetings open to the public.

"I always try to abide by the open door law," he said. "I don't always like the rules, but I try to abide by them."

Slavens said if he perceived an open door violation, he would be compelled to address it.

"Hey folks, we can't do this," is what Slavens said he would tell council members if he found more than half of them discussing county business before or after a scheduled meeting.

The married Slavens has been a farmer since 1961. He earned a degree in accounting and economics from Manchester College in 1969.

"I have a desire to keep county government running as efficiently as possible," he said. "We need somebody in there who will make tough decisions, and I am willing to do that." "I've made some unpopular decisions in the past," he continued. "I am not afraid to do it again. I want to keep taxes low."

Slavens can be reached by telephone at (574) 943-3523 or when seen in the community.

"I'm always someone who will listen," he concluded.