The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1304002
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, October 28, 2020 D-1 ELECTION 2020 ELECTION 2020 PIKE COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGE Cathy McFarland Independent (page D-2) Dennis Bishop Republican Nathan W. Evans Republican Todd Meadors Democrat (page D-2) Greg Willis Republican (page D-2) IAN GAMROTH FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 64: A combat veteran A Princeton Public School teacher Married to Lynda Powers-Gamroth: a small business owner and mother to their son IAN WILL: Champion public education and teachers Support the farming and coal community Expand rural broadband And be your voice of reason! Paid For By The Friends Of Ian Gamroth, Brooke Reed, Treasurer Expand rural broadband And be your voice of reason! And be your voice of reason! ATTENTION PORTIONS OF PIKE COUNTY Plus Gibson County, Vanderburgh Zip Codes 47725, 47720 and portions of Posey and Knox Counties ATTENTION PORTIONS OF PIKE COUNTY Plus Gibson County, Vanderburgh Zip Codes 47725, 47720 and portions of Posey and Knox Counties It's Time For A Representative Who Speaks Up For Citizens! District 64 Now More Than Ever... A VOICE FOR WORKING PEOPLE! www.IanGamroth.com By Andy Heuring The race for three County Council At-large positions is always an unusu- al race because you can vote for three people. The top three vote getters are elected. This year, it has three Republicans, Dennis Bishop, Nathan Evans and Greg Willis; a Democrat, Todd Meadors, and an Independent, Cathy McFarland, running. Below are their profiles. DENNIS BISHOP Dennis Bishop is a three-term in- cumbent Republican from Peters- burg. He and his wife, Sherry, own Petersburg Hardware with their son- in-law and daughter, Eric and Rob- in Smith. Dennis and Sherry are in their 25th year of owning Petersburg Hardware. Their two other daughters are Sta- cy Derose and Stephanie Ruppel. Bishop is a member of the Growth Council, treasurer of the Pike Coun- ty Economic Development Coun- cil, finance chair at the First United Methodist Church, president of the Pike County Redevelopment Com- mission and a member of Kiwanis. He holds a Bachelor of Science de- gree in Finance from Murray State and graduated from Princeton High School. Bishop served four years as vice-president of the council. "As I found out, government work is quite a bit different than being in business, a whole lot different," said Bishop. He said his experience on the council is "relevant right now since the IPL announcement (their assess- ment dropped significantly). I don't want to say anything bad about IPL. They have been very good for the county. I'm definitely pro-growth. We have had numerous close calls with prospective businesses." "I have always said I'm pro-growth, that is an understatement. The future success of this business (Petersburg Hardware) and the county is to make up that assessed value. We are kind of attached at the hip to business and county. Being heavily involved in the Growth Council and Redevelopment Commission, I'm fully aware of just about any possibility that is coming along. I want to make sure almost all of them come in. I understand their need for secrecy. I have always kept it that way. I know we are going to have harder times down the road." "A lot of people say you can't cut your way into prosperity. But I look at it not as cutting spending, but mak- ing the effort to bring in new busi- nesses and new tax bases to offset our losses in the next few years that are coming." "I want to make Pike County a place where my extended family can have a future. I want to provide a place where other families and their children and grandchildren have a place to work and stay around." "Pike County has a lot going for it. Sure, we have some shortcomings. We have seen enough activity and coming so close to some big devel- opment that it is a matter of when, not if, some business will locate out at I-69. We have had some success with the water plant and water treat- ment facilities. That will help us en- tice some industry out at I-69." said Bishop. "I-69 has challenged us as far as our EMS and emergencies from I- 69 have increased dramatically But that is one of the prices of having I- 69 come into the county." "We have done a lot to improve emergency management and the whole safety issue." "I wanted to make sure we are do- ing everything we can to entice em- ployers to come to Pike County and bring the employees that will in- crease the population. We have do- ne a real good job of advertising that nationally. We have had a lot of peo- ple compliment us on what we have done so far. We have a great partner in Bowman Family Holdings. They have been a great partner. I think it is a matter of when, not if we will get someone here." "It is tough market, but I can't see anyone working harder then we have," said Bishop. "I'm strongly pro-life and pro- growth." "I'm a heck of a good guy," said Bishop about why people should vote for him. He added, "One, I consider the success of Pike County will contin- ue our success in our family busi- ness. I want to provide a place where you and your family can stay close to each other. It is awful nice to have your grandchildren nearby. I have experienced grandchildren being in California. I think people who have grandchildren would appreciate hav- ing them nearby," said Bishop. NATHAN W. EVANS Nathan W. Evans, a Republican, lives in Petersburg and is vice-presi- dent of Evans and Son RV in Peters- burg. They have operated it since 1993. He also owns 868 Rock. "I deliver driveway gravel," said Evans. He also works as an electrician at IPL, where he has worked for 13 years. He is a member of the International Broth- erhood of Electrical Workers. Evans is a member of Timeless Classics auto club and the Masonic Lodge, a Master Mason, Shriner and a member of Crossroads Christian Church at Newburgh. He graduated from Pike Central in 1993 and stud- ied Business Management at Oak- land City University for one year. He also did the Dale Carnegie Training Institute and Fred Pryor Management courses. He went to Ashworth College for Industrial Elec- tricians, attended Ivy Tech and is cer- tified in Industrial Technology and Industrial Electrician. Evans is also certified by the Rec- reation Vehicle Industry Association as a Master RV Technician. "I have grown up in a family busi- Continued on page 2