The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/89560
The Press-Dispatch PIKE COUNTY FALL 2012 Wednesday, October 24, 2012 ELECTION PREVIEW COUNTY COUNCIL-AT-LARGE Six vying for three spots in County Council race zens State Bank for 21 years and making bank-wide de- cisions. "When I graduat- ed from college, my first position was field examin- er for the State Board of Ac- counts auditing counties, cities, towns and school corporations. That along with accounting experience uniquely qualifies me for the position." "I have been on the coun- Continued from page A-6 vote for him. He added, "My extensive council we have worked to take the EMS Service to a paramedic service from the EMT-level service, as well as made advancements in other services to Pike County res- idents." Willis did not list anything needs to spend more money on economic development. "I think with I-69 now a reali- ty and Pike County being on the corridor as a county gov- ernment, we need to make more emphasis on econom- ic development than what has been in the past." He also said, "We need to public my entire life and truly feel my efforts on the county council have made a difference to the people of Pike County during the last four years. I have worked hard to make sure Pike County has stayed financial- ly sound and would like the opportunity to make sure it remains that way," said Wil- lis about why people should continue to upgrade equip- ment for different depart- ments within the county as we can financially afford to do so." "I have worked with the ty council for four years. I have been serving as pres- ident of the county coun- cil for last two years, and I feel that I have truly made a difference for the county. We have continued to main- tain Pike County in a finan- cially sound condition and would like the opportunity to continue that," said Wil- lis about why he is seeking re-election. He added, "As a county financial background as an accountant and prior gov- ernmental auditing experi- ence uniquely qualifies me to serve on county council. I have no political agenda and always look at the facts in or- der to make well-informed decisions. My goal has al- ways been to make the best use of local tax dollars with common sense and integrity." ALDRIDGE (D) KERRY and defense attorney who lives in Alford with his fi- ancee, Rachael, and their daughter, who is an eighth grader at Pike Central. He graduated from Pike Aldridge is a family law it is spent in a way that ben- efits the entire county," said Aldridge. "Through research I have Central and received an un- dergraduate degree from the University of Southern Indiana in political science with a minor in economics and child psychology. He then received a juris doc- torate from the University of Oklahoma. Aldridge is a member of as having too much money spent on it. He said Pike County nomics and experience in balancing my own budget and just general experience in not spending more than you have coming in," said Aldridge. "My relationship with the the American Bar Associa- tion, Indiana Bar Associa- tion, Public Defenders Asso- ciation, Business Law Asso- ciation and American Trial Law Association and a for- mer member of the Winslow Lions Club. "I have a minor in eco- ning for county council, "generally to get the budget under control and to make sure the taxpayers dollars and county money goes to- ward the whole county not just a selective few. And to see money we have is not ne- glected and abused and that county has given me expe- rience in where problems are. Just experience in liv- ing in this county and see- ing where the problems ar- eas are and what problems need to be addressed." Aldridge said he is run- payers dollars being spent to benefit a few. County cellphone budget last year (2012)was $1,700, by Febru- ary 2012 the county had an $1,800 bill and the monthly bill ranged between $1,100 and $1,800 through August." "A lot of county employ- ees are carrying smart phones instead of regular cellphones. This is failure to monitor the budget. There are games being download- ed on cellphones. The coun- ty budget is paying for these downloaded games," said Aldridge. He said the council made the people of the entire county not just one area or another, I guess. Just by liv- ing in this county some ar- eas of the county get ne- glected due to abuses of power and that needs to be shut down. I'm tired of it." Aldridge had a long list of things he said too much money is being spent on: • "I think there are tax- seen abuses locally of the budget and will continue to make sure that the budget is monitored as comes with the county council rather than getting elected and fail- ing to monitor outrageous spending." "I want to be a voice for budget, the only road that has been paved was the Judge and Prosecutor's road (Dutchtown Road). The Dis- trict 3 commissioner had only spent $1,000 this year, leaving $250,000 to spend for end of the year. What was the need for another $150,000?" • "Another request at the same meeting was a re- quest for $300,000 in coun- ty equipment, but they had promoted purchase of Grad- all last year and it hasn't hardly been used. Anoth- er example of outrageous spending." • "The EMS Director think we need to spend more money on, county roads. It needs to be spread out and benefit everyone not just a few. Also economic de- velopment for the county as a whole." "Also I agree we need to asked for a 16 percent raise. Yet it has not been made clear that the Highway De- partment bookkeeper, who is also Republican County Chairman, asked for a 17 percent raise, which is an in- crease of more than $4,800 in wages." "There is one thing I strategy or plan that stops paving roads for the inter- est of a few and benefits the county as a whole in each district yearly. I intend on taking a stance and voting as a councilman to benefit the county and not taking this 'don't rock the boat attitude.' This attitude had caused on- ly the few to benefit and not the county as a whole." Another goal of Aldridge's they are being paid to do." He added, "To create a is actually controlled, we will be able to provide ap- propriate medical services for a county that is an aging community." Aldridge said people prove a power status instead of working together to bene- fit the county." "If and when the budget is "To promote economic de- velopment with I-69 coming in. I don't want us to be the black hole along the inter- state that we all have seen traveling down interstates. We have the opportunity to promote economic develop- ment now. If we don't now, when are we going to do it?" "I would also like to hold county employees account- able for their abuse and ne- glect of taxpayer dollars, as mentioned above. If we continue to allow this out- rageous abuse of the bud- get we will not be able to ad- dress important issues in the county because even- tually the pot will run dry. All this is happening just to a big production out of need- ing money to purchase a Gradall for $300,000 that is hardly being used. • "Selective paving of roads to benefit a few not the county as a whole. Out of the county EDIT funds for purpose of developing coun- ty as a whole, the council has allowed $500,000 to be spent on a single road in a single district. That is an ob- vious abuse of such funds." "It was not developing even the county or a district. It was for benefit of a few." • He said in the recent annual budget there was a request of $150,000 for bi- tuminous, while District 1 Commissoner still had $200,000 left. "Out of their be purchasing equipment for the garage but some- thing that is going to be used. If we are going to buy a $300,000 piece of equip- ment it should be used," said Aldridge. "More or less taking should vote for him because, "If elected as an elected offi- cial you are a public servant. As a public servant the im- provement of the county is a priority. Not your own or the interest of a few. I stand for honesty, I live in this coun- ty and have my whole life. I can see the problems. I'm willing to do the research to monitor abuse and ne- glect of the budget as I have and as the job requires." "I intend to hold those ac- countable for abuse and ne- glect of spending and cre- ate strategies that prevent abuse and neglect of tax- payer dollars. I want to put our money to work for the whole county not just the select few. I have the expe- rience and training to do the job and promise to do it as required to stop the abuse and neglect." A-7 Election day is Nov. 4, 2012 money we are spending and spend it more on all the dis- tricts to improve the whole county not just certain ar- eas. If we can't spend the money appropriately for the benefit of all the county then there should be cutbacks to stop outrageous spending to benefit the few." When asked about goals Aldridge said, "I think if we get the budget under con- trol and end neglect and abuse, then we can provide adequate health service. I would like to see a county council that actually moni- tors the abuse and neglect of county money and checks the records and does the job open SolUtionS Skin Care @ HoUSe thurSday, noveMber 1 noon-6 P.M. Stop in and see all the services available. For more information, call 812-582-1464 or become friends on Facebook with Susan Brewster Stuckey 709 Main St, PeterSburg netedition Z M yeah, it's that fast! The Press-Dispatch. 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