Vicki Andrews (R), 8708 S 600W-90, Warren.
Andrews, 68, is a realtor and broker for Caldwell Banker Holloway, bus driver and substitute teacher for Southern Wells, and also does custom sewing and alterations. She currently serves as a member of the Wells County Council, At-Large.
Andrews is also a member of Southern Wells Community Church, and serves on the following boards: Citizens Against Drug Abuse, Solid Waste Management District, Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council, Wells County Drug Task Force and Purdue Extension board. She also volunteers for Junior Achievement.
Qualifications
I have previously worked in the county clerk’s and treasurer’s offices. I worked at Southern Wells as the corporation treasurer for over 22 years, through the Indiana Association of School Business Officials, I trained and received the title of Chief Financial Officer. I am currently in my 12th year as a county councilman. In all of these offices, I have gained knowledge of how the government works especially in the budget and finance area.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for this office based on my qualifications of past experience and the knowledge I have to make good decisions in county government. I have a servant’s heart and want to serve the people of Wells County and do the best I know to use the taxpayer’s dollars.
As an incumbent, what initiatives would you continue? What changes or new initiatives are needed?
As an incumbent, I would continue the employee’s matrix system. I would like to make sure we are looking into the future of the EMS in Wells County. I hope to attend more AIC and state called meetings to always keep up to date with new legislation and other county’s issues. I would like to make more visits to the county offices to find out their needs.
What do you feel are the most significant challenges and opportunities for Wells County right now?
The challenges that I see are trying to keep our community growing but in the best way we can. As new ideas for the county come to mind, there are many challenges with growth. As we have seen the solar farms, wind farms, roads and bridge repairs and construction, employees wages and benefits, the court system challenges, we are the financial body but so many things go beyond the finances, they are the best way of life that we experience here in Wells County. Wells County is a safe place to live and work and I would like to see it continue.
Scott Burke (I), 8665 N 100 E, Ossian.
Burke, 53, has been a locomotive engineer for 34 years and owns the Grand Sweet Shop and M&S Motosports in Bluffton.
He and his wife, Melissa, also host an annual car show/cruise in to benefit families in need.
Qualifications
Since the 1970’s, my family has had close ties to the community through small business. Through that relationship, I have developed common sense understanding of the economic landscape of Wells County.
Why are you running for this office?
To uphold the traditions and values of our community.
As an challenger, what initiatives would you continue? What changes or new initiatives are needed?
I would continue to maintain fiscal discipline. I would increase transparency in county government. I would seek to enable economic development consistent with the character of our community.
What do you feel are the most significant challenges and opportunities for Wells County right now?
The most significant challenge is maintaining growth that benefits the entire community in the face of the political, social and economic agendas against us. Wells County has an excellent investment opportunity in our young people. They are our future!
Scott Elzey (R), 1824 NW S.R. 116-90, Markle.
Elzey, 65, is now retired and focused on his farm and rental properties. His professional career consisted of 13 years as a project manager at IBM, 16 years as senior technology director at AT&T, and five years as a dispatch center manager at Frontier. He is currently serving his first term as a member of the Wells County Council.
Elzey also serves as the board president of the Wells County Convention and Visitors Commission and membership coordinator of the Wells County Historical Society, and board member of Bluffton NOW! and the Ossian Redevelopment Commission. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and local Republican Party.
Qualifications
I was born in the town of Ossian and have lived in Wells County for over a half century. My wife and I raised our family on our 60-acre farm. I have a B.S. in business administration from Indiana University. I have management and business leadership experience to continue to help the County move forward.
One of the most important qualifications for Council is the availability of time. Although we usually meet monthly, there are a couple weeks in the early fall where we could meet daily. Council members are appointed to other boards so several hours each week are required to do the job effectively. So far this year, I have attended over two dozen meetings taking place during the work day in addition to the scheduled Council meetings. I can meet these commitments because I am retired.
Why are you running for this office?
We are headed in the right direction, but Wells County needs to continue to grow good-paying jobs and provide additional housing in all price ranges. We need to continue our economic development initiatives to attract workforce talent.
We compete with other Northeast Indiana communities so we must keep the focus. If we are not growing forward, we are falling behind. We, as a county, have made that turn and are now heading in the right direction. I am passionate about improving the future for Wells County and want to continue leading those efforts.
As an incumbent, what initiatives would you continue? What changes or new initiatives are needed?
I have three goals as County Councilman: improve good-paying job availability, increase available housing, and provide more quality-of-life opportunities while keeping taxes low. We need this so our future generations can live here and enjoy the county like we have throughout our lives.
Each council member serves on other boards. Because of my desire to continue improvements downtown, I am involved with Bluffton NOW!. I enjoy outdoor recreation so I am passionate about being president of the Tourism Commission and protecting our natural resources. I am currently working on initiatives to improve the quality of our waterways.
What do you feel are the most significant challenges and opportunities for Wells County right now?
Wells County is known throughout the state as having one of the lowest tax rates. Our collective challenge is to grow job and recreational opportunities in the County while keeping taxes low.
Our local parks departments, library, and various volunteer organizations have made a mark on our quality-of-life and we need to continue to give them the tools to do more.
Brian Hollingsworth (D), 617 E 350 S, Bluffton.
Hollingsworth, 56, is a truck driver and has servered over 37 years as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.
He was also a member of the Chester Township Volunteer Fire Department for over 20 years.
Qualifications
I have been manager of a few restaurants in the past. I have been fiscally responsible for training funds for Army reserve units I have been part of the command team for.
Why are you running
for this office?
I believe people should have a choice on the ballots. For too many years here in Wells County you see almost every position run unopposed and one-sided. I further believe there should be balance, meaning if either side has total control it can lead to an unfairness for taxpayers.
As a challenger, what
initiatives would you continue? What changes or new
initiatives are needed?
As for any changes to current initiatives, none stand out to me, but all should be reviewed on a continuous basis to ensure they are in the best interest and benefit all residents of Wells County equally. As far any new initiatives the opportunities are almost endless. There are so many programs and grants that could benefit the county and its residents.
What do you feel are the
most significant challenges
and opportunities for
Wells County right now?
The biggest challenges all relate to having opportunities for Wells County residents to have employment that meets their families’ financial needs closer to home. Meaning not having to travel 100+ miles a day round trip to work. I believe there is movement in this direction, but we must not stop seeking further improvements. We should also strive to give some of the same incentives we offer large corporations to come here to the small business owners and individuals wanting to start a small business. Growth is growth. A lot of large corporations started as small businesses.
Seth Whicker (R), 1191 W Hancock St., Uniondale.
Whicker, 54, is a partner at SYM Financial Advisors. He currently serves as the president of the Wells County Council, and has been on the council for eight years.
Whicker is a board member of the Wells County Foundation, Wells County EMS Foundation and Bi-County Services. He is also a volunteer for Junior Achievement, providing lessons on financial responsibility to elementary and high school students.
Qualifications
My wife and I were both raised in Wells County and live in Uniondale. We have raised three children here and understand the needs of families and the community. With degrees in financial analysis and planning, I work on budgeting issues on a daily basis. My work and educational background make me uniquely qualified to be a watchdog for taxpayers. I am honored to put these skills to work for the taxpayers of Wells County.
Why are you running
for this office?
From an early age, my parents, and my wife’s parents instilled in us themes of involvement and giving back. As a result of what was modeled in our lives, I have sought opportunities to contribute to our community in a variety of ways. It is my goal to continue to make Wells County the greatest place to live, work, and raise a family.
As an incumbent, what
initiatives would you continue? What changes or new
initiatives are needed?
Over my two terms on County Council, we have maintained a high level of fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. We have also focused on and improved the county’s infrastructure through road and bridge improvements. Recently, renovations have been completed which will extend the life of the Wells County Jail. I have been heavily involved in the creation of an interlocal agreement between the City of Bluffton and Wells County for consolidated 911 services. We also planned for and brought to completion the building of a much-needed highway garage. Lastly, working closely with our county attorney, we created a first of its kind ordinance in Indiana to ban any future tax abatements for industrial solar.
With all this, we still face challenges and there is more to be accomplished. Funding levels for EMS services must be reviewed to determine fiscal efficiency. County Council must continue to work on reducing tax rates to provide relief to those with increased home assessments. In each of the past three years, including this most recent budgeting cycle, we have seen our tax rate decline. We must expand economic development to increase opportunities for our own citizens and for those interested in making our county their home. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve the citizens of Wells County, and I look forward to continuing this work.
What do you feel are the
most significant challenges
and opportunities for
Wells County right now?
I believe, as I mentioned above, that we are going to have financial challenges in the next several years related to EMS services that will need to be addressed. There are also various significant economic development/revitalization projects we are working on that have the possibility of dramatically improving our community. We also must continue to have an ongoing focus on infrastructure, most importantly improving our roads and bridges. Lastly, with home assessments increasing dramatically over the past several years, we need to maintain a fiscally responsible budget. I am proud that over the past three years the county has seen its tax rate decline as we have not needed the added assessed value revenue from taxpayers. With higher inflation and taxes, we need to ensure County Council is doing our part to control spending and grow Wells County into the future.
