ANDERSON — Standing on the roof of the five-story city building, Mayor Kris Ockomon looks over the cityscape of Anderson.

“It’s an amazing view,” he says while preparing for a photo shoot with The Herald Bulletin.

The sound of the electric trolley’s welcoming bell echoes off Central Avenue, marking one of the efforts Ockomon has taken to add aesthetics to the community.

“I like the trolley,” downtown resident Brandon Wicker, 23, says as he leaves the YMCA. “I like that. (Ockomon) has found something the city already had, put money into it instead of buying something new.”

Despite financial restraints, Ockomon has stuck with his top three priorities — economic development, public safety and quality-of-life issues.

After six months in office, Ockomon, formerly a detective at the Anderson Police Department, sees his work well under way in priority areas for his administration. However, he has met some controversy and difficult situations, such as a lawsuit challenging his eligibility to be mayor and some questionable appointments, along the way.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Job creation was top priority from day one, Ockomon said in a recent interview.

“Bringing jobs and being able to be competitive in the job market, we feel like we have taken an aggressive surge toward bringing jobs here,” he said.

Linda Dawson, director of Economic Development, said the city department had seen a 25-percent increase in prospects contacts from last year.

“We’re not going to let any grass grow under our feet,” Ockomon said. “We’re going to continue to push in the job market because with the financial dire straits that we’re facing. We’re going to have to develop our base of jobs and raise our tax base here to be competitive.”

The city also has taken aggressive efforts to foster more jobs for the community from existing businesses in the area.

“After a discussion at an economic development staff meeting with the mayor, it was discussed how 85 percent of all job creation comes from existing businesses, not business attraction, and after considering that high percentage, the existing business program seemed to be the next step,” Dawson said.

Chuck Staley, the president and CEO of the Flagship Enterprise Center, said Ockomon meets regularly with the Flagship and other economic development groups.

“I think Kris has been very communicative with us,” Staley said. “I give a real thumbs up to him.”

Since Jan. 1, more than 1,300 new jobs have been announced by new and existing businesses, including 100 jobs at iPower and 500 jobs at Hoosier Park.

One major economic development change was Ockomon’s view on foreign trips. During his campaign, he was against them. In December, Ockomon participated in activities with a delegation from the Yuhang District in China, one of Anderson’s friendship regions. That changed his mind.

In the fall, Ockomon will send some of his administrative staff to China and Japan to continue the relationship with the Yuhang District and create relationships with other cities in the region.

“During the early days, I put out there a comment about the global economy, and I’ve taken a pretty big hit with that, but new guys in the field like I am, I’ve learned my lesson,” Ockomon said.

Former Mayor Kevin Smith said he had planned other economic development improvements, especially in infrastructure, that he hoped Ockomon would continue.

“Our priorities simply had everything to do with economic development: new jobs, new growth, new development,” Smith said.

Smith said he was disappointed to see that the city had bought its way out of a contract with Value Recovery Group, a marketing firm that was hired to sell the General Motors properties. But Ockomon said he didn’t see the value in Value.

“We were very disappointed in the results of what they were producing, or lack of what they were producing,” Ockomon said.

PUBLIC SAFETY

One major point during Ockomon’s campaign was the importance of social support programs for neighborhood safety, such as CrimeWatch and SeniorLink.

“The mayor has planted his flag on public safety,” said Greg Graham, chairman of the Board of Works.

Ockomon saw the implementation of programs in the Weed and Seed program as well as the opening of a training facility for regional fire departments.

“In crime stats, we’ve observed one particular area where Weed and Seed and CrimeWatch has been created and had an effect,” Ockomon said. “Downtown, we’ve seen a great decrease in that area, and we believe it’s attributed to the proactive approach.”

Ockomon has also worked with some nonprofit groups in the area to get support on safety initiatives. For example, he refocused the Mayor’s Commission Against Domestic Violence.

“Mayor (Kevin) Smith wanted the mayor’s Commission Against Domestic Violence to focus on schools,” said Mary Jo Lee, CEO of Alternatives Inc., and chair of the commission.

Ockomon changed that focus to courts and police.

The commission has also worked on getting misdemeanor domestic battery cases heard earlier in court. “If we could get those heard on the same day, it would be very helpful to police, advocates, victims’ assistance, everybody,” Lee said.

Smith, who resumed his position as detective at APD after the election, was complimentary about his colleague on the police force.

“Any effort to gain public support of crimestopping is laudable,” Smith said. “Realistically, police can’t solve crimes unless the public helps. Any efforts to increase CrimeWatch, those are very good.”

Problems at Animal Care and Control was one of the first major controversies that Ockomon encountered in his first few months in office. In March, Larry Russell, who was appointed as senior humane officer at the shelter, resigned after he was criticized for euthanizing several animals, including one that was on hold for a rescue group.

“I would have never imagined that that would ever have been an issue at all,” Ockomon said.

Since then, the mayor has created the Animal Control Commission and appointed Joe McClain as the senior humane officer.

QUALITY OF LIFE

In February, Ockomon said the parks in the city were one of his top concerns.

His parks staff negotiated the sale of Hoosier Park land to Centaur, started a five-year comprehensive improvement plan for the Parks Department and continued projects started under previous administrations, such as the White River Trail System, a pedestrian bridge over White River.

Along with parks, Ockomon has worked closely with nonprofits to gain a partnership of services.

“The administration has very much recognized the value of the not-for-profits in the community,” Lee said. “I see them actually asking us how they can be involved, and that’s important because we’re important to the community.”

Rodney Nichols, chief professional officer for the Wilson’s Boys and Girls Club and the Youth Service Bureau, said he was also impressed by the city government’s involvement in its programs.

“Myself and other board members have met with the mayor and other members of his administration at least six times since he took office,” Nichols said.

Dan Sager, CEO of the YMCA of Madison County, said he felt Ockomon was focusing on positive things.

“It’s encouraging,” Sager said. “That’s very significant and positive for the community.”

Ockomon has helped the YMCA in getting appropriations from federal dollars for its renovation, Sager said.

LEGAL CHALLENGE

Three days before his inauguration, Ockomon faced a group of five citizens trying to keep him from taking office.

John Suko, Larry Davis, Carol Auker, Nick Vores and Doug Zook, later joined by Smith, the man he beat in November, claimed Ockomon did not live in Anderson for the required year before he took office, and that he was ineligible to be mayor.

Ockomon said the lawsuit was a distraction from his job.

“We’re finally ready to move forward with the city’s business, and that’s what we wanted all along,” he said. “We just wanted a fair shot of conducting city business and doing good for the community, and that’s what I feel we’re doing.

Smith said he did not see how the lawsuit would affect Ockomon unless he had a guilty conscience.

“I don’t know what type of impact it would have had,” he said. “As far as putting programs together, and putting people in place, I don’t see how it would have any effect.”

The lawsuit was dismissed in March, and efforts to appeal the judge’s decision were denied. The plaintiffs said they would not send the case to the Court of Appeals.

Davis also filed a lawsuit, which claims political discrimination was involved in his termination as senior humane officer at the Animal Shelter.

Ockomon said he was trying to move past the legal actions.

“Now that those shadows have kind of disappeared, I think people will see now that the pressure is off of the mayor, and I think I can have more time to focus on the business at hand and not have to worry about the things that are going on on the side,” he said.

MOVING FORWARD

“Kris had three major areas that he wanted us to look at — economic development, public safety and quality of life,” said Graham of the Board of Works. “Almost all that we do has to fit those parameters.”

In economic development, Ockomon’s administration expects to market the Anderson Metropolitan Airport, drill wells for water, promote the City of Anderson Transit System and continue the White River Trail System projects that Smith started.

He also has announced a scholarship program funded by casino revenues from Hoosier Park and other quality-of-life initiatives to bring people to the city.

Despite the challenged beginning, or maybe because of it, Ockomon has his critics.

Councilman Art Pepelea, Jr., R-District 5, said he was disappointed with some of the financial decisions the administration had made.

“All the department heads have been told to reduce expenses, and yet his administration went out and bought three new vehicles,” Pepelea said, referring to two new vehicles for the Parks Department and the Anderson Police Department and a used vehicle for the mayor.

Pepelea said he was also disappointed that the administration hired 94 new people in its first five months when there were cash-flow problems.

“Mayor Ockomon is probably going to think I’m giving him heck, but at the end of six months, I give him a D.”

Councilman Rodney Chamberlain, D-at large, also has scrutinized moves by the administration. Specifically, he said, he wanted raises for the people who work in the utilities office for the city, but to hold on other reclassifications that result in large pay increases.

Councilman Rick Muir, D-at large, said he was pleased with Ockomon’s work so far.

“In tough times, it takes a strong leader, and Kris is a strong leader,” he said.

------------

Six months of economic development

• City is now offering the economic development Web sikte in English, Chinese and japanese.

• City is re-energizing its relationshuipo with sister city Bernburg, Germany, and well as ties to Hangzhou, China.

• Existing Business Program developed to build relatiosnhips with businesses and city.

• 1,379 jobs created

• Plant 20 sold

• Developed a business resource directory

Source: City of Anderson