District 6 County Board Goals

Our investment in this community should yield stable returns. Is your voice being heard? Do you feel like a partner in the democratic process, or a silent spectator? We all have questions about our government spending. I share those concerns: Property Taxes, Mental health, County Nursing Home, Day Care, County Jail, Court System, County Roads, the Aquifer and Waterways, the Ecosystems and Greenways, Disability Services and all other Services and Departments the County is responsible to create, implement, manage and maintain policies for. We all ask, "Where is the balance between what we need, and what we can afford?" If elected, I will ensure those questions are answered with equitable solutions that meet the goals of our county, as well as how those goals will affect our individual livelihood. Let's take a look at a few issues currently in discussion:

 

The Debate on a New Jail Construction
We should oppose adding additional beds. We should agree to close the downtown jail and shift the population out to the East Campus facility. The downtown jail is a breeding ground for correctional failure, suicide danger and inefficient to run. It was designed under a jail philosophy that has no adherents now. The East Campus facility is modern, safer and more efficient to operate. The fact that we need an appropriate facility doesn't mean I support putting people in jail, but we cannot ignore the reality that there are going to be incarcerated individuals and they should be in a proper, modern facility. Understandably the County has no current funds to remedy this matter. Nonetheless, a detailed review should be done to help Constituents better understand that the problems will increase without some type of well thought out solution and solid course of action to achieve a reasonable resolve for the matter.

 

The Debate on The Nursing Home Project
I believe the County Board was not prepared for the problems that the Nursing Home created. Prior to the Nursing Home construction there were several major building projects underway that were relatively uneventful. However, the Nursing Home project made up for this with its mold and HVAC setbacks. In addition, the matter was further complicated by labyrinth-like policies imposed by the regulatory agency IHFPB brought to the media by a few local individuals who seemed more interested in politicizing the issues instead of trying to understand the origin and aiding in ways to help resolve the problems. Despite the obstacles, the project ended in only 2.5% over The County's approved budget, though litigation may recoup these funds and put the project in the black. As a result our current County Nursing Home is a wonderful facility. Furthermore, I believe the Nursing Home needs to remain in the public sector, continue employing an effective management team to carry out short term goals, and maintain a knowledgeable Board who'll oversee the long term goals.

 

The Debate on Minority Hiring, Contracting, etc.
In reviewing the general consensus of the current board - they've all expressed a desire to improve in this area. Having said that, I also believe the problem centers more on the fact that only a few members have actually advanced their ideas (i.e. preferred vendor list, construction academy for apprentice training, pressure on the unions, etc.) which appears to be contrasted by others who prefer to only voice complaints without offering solid solutions and a proposed plan to enforce said solutions . This becomes more visible when I've watched studies to resolve this problem being discussed. It seems some members are weighed down more in personality disparities instead of remaining focused on the racial disparity issues. Therefore, I would begin by soliciting ideas, concerns, perceived problems and create a subcommittee to create a concrete proposal to present for public discussion in an effort to compile a workable resolution to the complaints.