On The Issues

Fiscally Sound Financial Management

In Indiana county government, there is a statutory separation of powers between the board of commissioners and the council; the commissioners administer the day-to-day business operations and leadership of the county, and the council serves as a budgetary check on the commissioners, providing oversight on financial matters and matters of taxation. Just like our household budgets, government should not live on more than it makes. Every dollar is a public dollar, and therefore, every expense should be carefully considered against a cost vs. reward scenario. Expenses should be reduced when and where possible. My experience with the City of Martinsville Common Council and running a small business for the past 24 years has prepared me for this budgetary role.

Economic Development

I have a passion for economic development.  While I do not believe the role of government is to create jobs, job creation should come from the private sector with government fostering an atmosphere conducive to growth and encouraging employers to move to our own county. I look forward to combining my experience as a successful small business owner and my memberships on the Martinsville Redevelopment Commission and the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation to ensure Morgan County is well-positioned to attract businesses and compete for higher paying jobs.

Leaning Forward into a Bright and Prosperous Future

Section 6 of I-69 will no doubt provide many challenges (and headaches during the construction phase) for Morgan County and particularly Martinsville. It also presents a tremendous opportunity to invigorate and grow our county. We should embrace this opportunity, raise our expectations, and have a mentality of excellence as we work toward a brighter future. I believe it takes a leader with proven business knowledge and the ability to collaborate with various stakeholder groups within our community to maximize our potential. This includes building strong partnerships with state government officials, business leaders, and not-for-profit organizations.