Posey County Commissioner - District 3

Scott Moye* (D), Process Safety, Sabic Plastics

1. What are your top 3 priorities as a candidate for office?

Dealing with house bill 1001

Jobs and the local economy

Infrastructure, completion of the Westside bypass and the new entrance to the Southwind Maritime Port.

1a. I truly think that funding is a major challenge for local government over the next several years, this is going to be a huge strain on Posey County.

1b. Jobs and industry growth is a must for our county to continue to grow. As community leader marketing our assets such as the three `R's' River, Rail, and Roads.

1c. The increase in truck traffic will be a ongoing problem for us. With the two new ethanol plants under construction, this will increase the truck traffic largely through Posey County and the city of Mt. Vernon.

As your county Commissioner I will continue pushing Indianapolis for the completion of the Westside bypass around Mt.Vemon.

2. With the ongoing discussions of budget shortfalls, how can municipalities ensure efficient and cost-effective measures at the local level?  To alleviate taxpayer burden and streamline leadership, would you be in favor of unifying local units of government? 

As leaders we must all work together with all governing bodies, school Boards, city leaders, and all taxing unities. We must ask ourselves what we need and what we must have. My stand on unifying local units of government is NO. This must be looked at as one shoe does not fit all. In a small county like Posey County I truly think it would not be a money saving prospect.

3. As economic development becomes increasingly competitive on the regional and state level, how best can our local leaders assist in the attraction of new business and retention and expansion of local companies?

As a County Commissioner you must know the elements of contacts to be ready to attract new business.

As a follow-up, do you support continued financial support of the regional Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana?

3a. I am a strong supporter of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana. I was one of the many members of the task force that developed and launched the coalition two or three years ago. I have also served on the executive board. This is the backbone of getting economic development to the region and your local economic development group must work to promote your local sites.

4. In 2007, the bi-partisan Kernan-Shepard Commission made numerous recommendations to reform and restructure local government in Indiana, such as creation of a single county executive and legislative body, as well as transferring the responsibilities of townships to the county level.  Do you support implementation of these recommendations? 

There are parts of that commission that may work in some counties, I am a strong believer in letting the people at the local level decide if they want to go to a one County executive. This is a one shoe doesn't fit all across the state.

4a. Posey County doesn't even have the funding to implement the Daniels plan on the township assessors being placed under the county assessor. I cannot support something that I know will cost more money

5. As a municipal leader, how do you view your role in handling issues of regional importance to Southwest Indiana? 

As a Commissioner you must be involved with your State Rep's and State Senators and discuss the important issues facing your county. I feel that I have build a strong relationship with my state leaders and this is a big advantage when they are in session, so that I can express my thoughts on the impact of newly introduced bills to our community.

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Jerry Walden (R), President, Walden Insurance Agency

1. What are your top 3 priorities as a candidate for office?

1. Putting Posey County public information such as tax assessments, property values and county codes online and accessible to The Chamber of Commerce, realtors, insurance companies, as well as, the general public.

2. The long neglected Big Creek Watershed is in dire need of repairs. Approximately, 66% of the Watershed lies in Posey County and 28% in Vanderburgh County and 6% in Gibson County. Hugh amounts of topsoil are lost every year, along with, many chemicals, sediment and e-coli contamination aggravating the problem. State and federal funded solutions are available to many of the problems such as dredging, rebuilding the tributary banks to state specifications and restoring proper meandering of the stream banks to slow down the fast moving waters.

3. Southwest Indiana has been on the short end of the stick for receiving funds from Indianapolis for a long time. County Commissioners and other elected representatives should actively build bridges to Indianapolis. Republicans and Democrats alike have to get on the same page and pull for funding to counties in Southwest Indiana. This will take great effort from elected officials to travel to Indianapolis, build personal relationships with new people and become a loud but respectable squeaking wheel. Southwest Indiana is as every bit important as South Bend, Ft. Wayne, Marion County or any other place in the State of Indiana.

2. With the ongoing discussions of budget shortfalls, how can municipalities ensure efficient and cost-effective measures at the local level?  To alleviate taxpayer burden and streamline leadership, would you be in favor of unifying local units of government? 

Budget shortfalls and taxpayer burdens are literally the crux of governmental concerns. Unifying local government by eliminating elected County Auditors, Treasurers, Recorders, Assessors, etc., is one avenue that needs to be carefully considered and studied. In cases, where positions are being duplicated, by different departments of the government, then one of those positions may be able to be eliminated. The technological environment of computers and swift processing of data may make it feasible to consolidate the duplicated departments where the same data has been accessible in more than one system. Merging the school districts under one District Superintendent on the surface may seem like a good idea. However, in Posey County, where we have a large geographical area, it is important to allow each district to maintain their own individual personalities. Uniting these three districts together could create a plethora of local problems. Each school district should maintain their right to exist, if the community within that specific district chooses to tax themselves more heavily to maintain their particular district. The Mt. Vernon school district has many more students and its requirements and flavor is very different than New Harmony or North Posey. For example, the New Harmony community has a special project which funds trips to Washington D.C. for their students that give them a lifetime memory and an opportunity to see their government at work.

3. As economic development becomes increasingly competitive on the regional and state level, how best can our local leaders assist in the attraction of new business and retention and expansion of local companies?

The first thing that needs to be done is updating and rebuilding the infrastructure of Posey County. When businesses are looking to build in a specific area, the basics such as the quality of water, proper sewer treatment and road transportation need to be adequate. Other issues, such as: 1.) Grants to continue with community beautification projects, which are important in attracting new population. 2.) Investing in a community/youth center to attract all ages can be vital. 3.) Allowing tax abatements for small businesses, which are currently available for large business, would help a small business owner get started. 4.) Offering a home building co-op center to help support local contractors where they could purchase their building materials locally; saving the contractors time and money.

As a follow-up, do you support continued financial support of the regional Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana?

Yes, there is strength in numbers.

4. In 2007, the bi-partisan Kernan-Shepard Commission made numerous recommendations to reform and restructure local government in Indiana, such as creation of a single county executive and legislative body, as well as transferring the responsibilities of townships to the county level.  Do you support implementation of these recommendations? 

Each recommendation needs to be evaluated and studied on an individual basis before any implementation should be considered. There is always a give and take when authorities are being centralized. I am familiar with all of the Kernan-Shepard Commission.

5. As a municipal leader, how do you view your role in handling issues of regional importance to Southwest Indiana? 

I will take the Posey County Commissioner role very seriously. I believe the days for minimal community service from elected officials is diminishing. The importance and the technology demands that elected leaders involve more time, effort and personal out-of-pocket expenses to fulfill this position. It would be a privilege to have the trust and to serve Southwest Indiana.

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