An incumbent is asking voters to keep him in office and a novice to politics is asking for a change in District 1.
Rev. Jim Payton said he learned a member of his congregation at Central Christian, Dennis Breeden, had decided to run for the District 3 commissioner seat and that sparked his interest.
“As I got to looking on that as an office,” Payton said, “I thought it was an interesting thing to do. It’s the executive and legal branch of county government and I think they need to be bipartisan.”
Currently all three commissioners are Republicans.
Getting a little encouragement from Breeden, as well as Payton’s own family, he decided to toss his hat in the ring.
Payton, a Democrat is from Rockville and said his family was involved in politics with an assessor and several sheriff’s in the mix, all Democrats elected in a Republican county.
Tony Wichman is seeking his third term representing District 1.
He said he wants to continue with the improvements in employment in Daviess County.
“We’ve got the lowest unemployment in the state this month,” Wichman said.
“I like to tell people I’m not a politician, I’m a community servant.” Wichman said he gets about 20 calls a week and while that takes of a lot of time, that’s part of the job.
Payton said he is interested in roads in the county.
“I’d like to work to establish priorities,” he said about road repair and paving. “We have 799 miles of road in the county and it would take 40 years to resurface (them all) doing at least 20 miles a year. It would be a daunting task and we may not have the money to do everything we need to do. We have to have priorities.”
Wichman said that 90 percent of his calls from constituents concern roads.
“I try to help them with the highway department,” Wichman said. “I act as a go-between sometimes. There are some things I can and some things I can’t do.”
While many people complain that their road isn’t paved, Wichman said that a well maintained gravel road system is equal to a poorly maintained paved road system.
“It’s a liability,” he said pointed out some neighboring counties that have more paved roads that are falling apart.
“The Odon-Cannelburg Road is a priority with all the traffic and business on it,” he added. “We’ll have about $3.2 million dollars (from grants) to use to bring it up to federal standards. That’s doing about 2 1/2 miles. The thing is safety first, jobs second. There are several smaller industries on that road.”
Payton said he is impressed with the Lighthouse and the county’s support of the project. It’s something he would like to see expanded.
“They are doing marvelous work within the community,” Payton said. “I’m also very impressed with the work within the county security system and would like to see it grow.”
He said the new programs at the Daviess County Security Center can do a lot to keep people from repeat offending and can help bring families back together.
“It’s hard to find people to work in that capacity (security center) and hard to keep them,” Payton said. “We’ve got good people and it’s up to us to keep them. They can make a big difference in people’s stay (in jail).”
Wichman said he was pleased with the new Tech Park outside of Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center and as a commissioner has promoted the growth of the park and industrialization in the county.
“With TIFF districts tax dollars stay here,” he said. “TIFF areas allow us to bring in state tax money that allow us to do infrastructure, road and electricity.
“We’re working to promote Daviess County. That funding is priority. If you don’t have the industry you won’t have the jobs.”
He would also like to see jobs in the area that keep young people here.
“If you don’t have the workforce, you won’t have the industry,” Wichman said. “I believe we’ve got the workforce. We need to retrain what we’ve got.”
Keeping youth in the area is also a priority with Payton, who said both his married daughters left Washington as their husbands’ jobs took them to the Lagrange area.
“Seems like we get a good paying job and lose someone else whose been here awhile,” he said. “In 21 years at my church we’ve watched young people go to college and then have to move away for a job. It’s a real problem in the area. I’d like to reverse that.”
Payton said he thinks I-69 will be an answer to that problem.
“But I’ve been her 21 years and we’re just beginning to get that (I-69) going,” he said. “We’re past due for something to help develop our area.”
Both men are concerned about the possibility of replacing the three-person county commissioners with a one-person county overseer, as the state has recommended.
“Not all change is for the good,” Payton said. “Bipartisan representation is best. It’s hard to say let’s put it in the hands of one person. I’m not sure what will come of that.”
Wichman thinks the state should be cautions in making changes.
“There needs to be a lot of input from the local community,” he said. “This needs to be done in a proper manner, if at all. They should be able to be recalled. The state needs to listen.”
Both men say they look forward to serving the public.
“I’m excited with the prospect of getting in there and learning a bunch of new things,” Payton said.
While Wichman said, “I love working with the public. I’m not in it for the insurance or the paycheck.”
Local News
Wichman, Payton want commissioner’s seat
- Local News
-
-
Seidel crowned WC's homecoming queen
Madison Seidel, daughter of Jane and Richard Seidel of Washington, was crowned 2012 Washington Catholic Homecoming Queen at the Birdcage on Saturday.
-
Car becomes stuck on railroad tracks; driver cited
Kevin Michael Williams, 5303 S. Alexander Rd., was cited for disregarding a stop sign after a 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier he was driving became stuck on CSX railroad tracks in Washington near the Daviess County Chamber of Commerce. Tri-County Towing removed the vehicle at 5:41 p.m. after CSX officials had been contacted.
-
Schnitzelbank has No. 1 sandwich in Indiana
Indianapolis had a great time hosting the Super Bowl and although most of the attention appeared to be focused on all things Brady, Manning and Manning (sounds like a law firm), however, we know the star that shined the brightest was the Indiana Super 46 sandwich contest.
-
Messmer in Washington to discuss current legislation
District 63 State Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) held a town hall meeting Monday at Washington City Council Chambers to discuss current legislation passed by the Indiana House of Representatives, to answer questions from constituents and to hear their concerns.
One bill of local interest that has passed through the House is HB 1149, the smoking ban. It would prohibit smoking in public places, enclosed places of employment and within 12 feet of a public entrance to those places. It also would prohibit smoking in certain state vehicles if signed into law. -
Messmer hears concerns
District 63 State Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) held a town hall meeting Monday at Washington City Council Chambers to discuss current legislation passed by the Indiana House of Representatives, to answer questions from constituents and to hear their concerns.
-
Car finds railroad tracks
Kevin Michael Williams, 5303 S. Alexander Rd., was cited for disregarding a stop sign after a 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier he was driving became stuck on CSX railroad tracks in Washington near the Daviess County Chamber of Commerce. Tri-County Towing removed the vehicle at 5:41 p.m. after CSX officials had been contacted.
-
Pierce named B-R Homecoming Queen
Rebekah Pierce, daughter of Russell and Beth Pierce of Washington, was crowned 2012 Homecoming Queen at Barr-Reeve High School on Friday.
-
ND crowns Steffey, McAtee
Anthony Steffey, son of Jim and Bridgette Steffey, and Shelby McAtee, daughter of Ron and Lynn Cox, were crowned Homecoming King and Queen at North Daviess High School on Friday.
-
Car causes garage fire on Edwardsport Road
A car caught fire at the home belonging to Robert Wichman at 5295N 100W.
-
Washington native on short list for Indiana Supreme Court
Washington native the Honorable Maria D. Granger is one of 15 under consideration to fill a vacancy on the Indiana Supreme Court.
- More Local News Headlines
-






