Delphi Municipal Election 2007
'This campaign is about Lee and Randy and who is the best qualified to take Delphi into the future.' - Mayor Lee Hoard
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Hoard

Incumbent mayoral candidate Lee Hoard is definite about being the person who should lead Delphi into the future.

"The next four years are going to be very important ones for the city," Hoard said Monday.

Hoard took exception to the words of his opponent at the city council debate forum two weeks ago when he said the mayoral race was about the City of Delphi and not about the two opponents.

"This campaign is about Lee Hoard and Randy Strasser and who is the best qualified to take Delphi into the future," Hoard emphasized.

"Credibility, integrity, fair and objective are very important words to me," Hoard continued. "I've never been a good politician. I've always just tried to do what is right for the people."

Hoard said his vision for Delphi is for two Delphis, the old and the new. One would be the quaint revitalized historic downtown area with unique businesses. The other would be the area south of town where the Hoosier Heartland Corridor will intersect US421, currently planned for between Alco and the car wash.

Hoard said both Delphis must be emphasized in order to govern each for prosperity.

Hoard said his record of good fiscal management is something for voters to keep in mind.

"I took office in 2000 and we had just a little more than $200,000 in our cash reserves," he explained. "By 2003, just before the flood, we had approximately $1 million. After the flood we went down to just over $400,000 and we are now back up to a little more than $2.5 million in cash reserves. That's due to just good fiscal management."

Hoard said, although that number seems like a large amount to have in reserve, the city must continue to be fiscally conservative.

"That's just not a lot of money if there is another disaster," he said.

Hoard said the department heads he appointed four years ago have been fiscally responsible but he "does not always shout about it."

"We just don't toot our own horn much," he said.

He said city financial and progress information is contained in the annual report but because he is busy running the city, he has little time to pursue other methods of dispersing information.

Hoard said it is important for council members to treat the heads of city departments like business partners. He ex- pects them to be treated fair and objectively.

"There are a couple of city council members who are argumentative and they create issues when there aren't issues," Hoard said. "Some have personal agendas. I don't want 'yes' people. I want fair and objective council members. There is no place (in city government) for personal biases."

Hoard indicated he will reappoint the same council members who currently serve on the board of works. He plans to continue to serve in that capacity as well.

"It makes sense for council members to be the board of works," he explained. "They can communicate with other council members readily."

Hoard said he considers all of the city council candidates "team members" and checked with two of them about their commitment to serve constituents for the full four-year term.

"I feel that once you make that commitment you should honor that commitment," he said. "They all have a responsibility to serve their districts."

Hoard said it bothered him to see signs for the opposition in some yards around town. It also bothers him that the chair of the Republican Party no longer supports his candidacy.

"The party chair is supposed to be part of the team," he said. "In a way, it's disappointing."

Hoard said the mayor is the only entity responsible for the day-to-day operation of the city.

"There has to be someone in charge," he explained. "The board of works approves expenditures up to $5,000. The council is in charge of fiscal responsibility and deciding ordinances."

Hoard said he meets with department heads once or twice each month to discuss issues.

"The department heads work together as a team," he explained. "The supervisor is only as good as the people around him."

Hoard said the one thing that does not need to be changed in city government is the process. He believes in "the process of checks and balances" to "make sure there isn't corruption."

Stating he leads by example, Hoard said he would "very seriously take into consideration" a city-wide smoking ban.

"I think smoking is bad for you. I don't smoke," he explained. "I'd be open for discussion, but I'm not one on government forcing things on people."

Hoard said he would not establish a police merit board. Those duties are currently handled by the board of works. He said that because of his law enforcement background, he has high standards for city police officers and the officers are held accountable to the higher standards.

"We have one of the safest cities around here and it's because of the police department," he said.

He said he would re-appoint the current chief of police if he is elected to serve another term.

Hoard began educating himself about the Hoosier Heartland Corridor eight years ago when he first became mayor. He currently serves as executive vice president of the Hoosier Heartland Industrial Corridor Coalition, which has been in existence for 25 years. He said because of that connection and his work with the design of the road he was able to steer the Indiana Department of Transportation to a route that lies to the west of The Andersons instead of through the middle of the cob factory. Hoard said he assisted with the establishment of the two intersections now planned for the Delphi area.

"The coalition is a voice that is heard in Indianapolis," he said.

Hoard said the comprehensive land use plan currently under development for the city "will lead to good working ordinances." He said he has been in contact with the firm hired to do the work. They are "working through their process" however, there is no timetable for completion.

"I know they are diligently working on it," he said. "I've been providing information to them."

Hoard said the hardest thing for him in this election is being opposed by someone currently on the council.

"Hopefully people think I've been a good mayor," he said. "And the people will tell me in the election. I've always tried to do the right thing."

"I've certainly enjoyed serving the community and citizens for the last eight years," Hoard concluded. "I'd like to serve the next four years and take the city into the future. I don't always have the answers, but I have people I can turn to for the answers."