The Herald Bulletin’s picks for two Madison County commissioner seats include an incumbent and a youthful challenger looking for his first political win.
In the North District, John Richwine, a farmer, seeks his second term. A Republican, Richwine is challenged by Democrat James Ramsey who has never served in political office.
Since winning his first term in 2004, Richwine has served with distinction, making decisions for the county with ever decreasing budgets. He’s a pragmatic man who constantly balances budgetary shortfalls with important projects for the county.
He’s opposed to two controversial measures that continue to be debated in the county. One is the Mallard Lake landfill and the other is a proposed airport in the southwestern part of the county. For the latter, Richwine said retail and residential development is better for the area.
The incumbent has been a good steward of the taxpayer money, working within the budget to maintain the level of service people have come to expect from county government. The extreme burden of running the county with tax collections a year behind has caused some borrowing from the Indiana Bond Bank, but that’s no different from many other taxing entities around the county.
Ramsey doesn’t have the grasp of the issues Richwine has. In the debate, Ramsey wasn’t nearly as focused and often got off the subject.
“I want my family and yours to continue to have the opportunity for success right here at home, “Richwine has stated. He needs another opportunity to keep this philosophy evolving.
In the Middle District, incumbent Pat Dillon decided not to run for another term and four men ran for the seat. After the May primary, Republican Peter Lyon and Democrat Jeff Hardin were left to square off.
Hardin is a seasoned veteran, currently on the Madison County Council. Lyon, at 24, is just beginning what may well be a life of public service.
Key to Hardin’s platform is infrastructure improvements, which will lead to attracting new businesses, and public safety. Hardin also stresses fair taxation across the board. “We will definitely have to be innovative to find fair revenue sources,” he said.
Lyon said he is all for working across party lines to do what is best for the county. He also sees the need to streamline government, citing overlapping duties among townships and the county. He offers fresh insights and doesn’t bring any political baggage to the table.
Though there is nothing wrong with Hardin’s ideas, Lyon’s innovative approach to solving county problems, including seeking revenue streams aside from further taxation, make him stand out.
Both Richwine and Lyon bring freshness and ingenuity to a job that grows tougher each year due to decreased revenue. County residents don’t want to see a decrease in services, and if something happens they don’t like they head straight to the commissioners, as it should be. It will take people with vision to respond.
Voters should give Richwine and Lyon the opportunity to lead in these uncertain times.
