Five Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination for the three at-large seats on the ballot this year for Porter County Council.

Two of the candidates are incumbents. William Carmichael of Chesterton, a former county commissioner, is seeking his fourth term on the council. Jim Burge of Valparaiso is seeking his second term.

The other candidates are all from the Duneland area: Donna Larsen Levi of Westchester Township, George Mrak of Porter, and former Porter Town Council member Sandra Snyder.

The three winners of the May 6 Republican primary will face the three Democrat winners in the November general election.

The main responsibility of the county council is to approve county government budgets, with the ability to grant ongoing budget transfers and additional appropriations. A new state law requires county councils to review and make non-binding recommendations on the budgets of other local government units.

Council members are paid $12,895, with the council president making $2,000 more. At-large candidates are voted for countywide.

The candidates were asked to answer the following questions. Their answers are printed as submitted, unless they were shortened to meet a 100-word limit.

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the Porter County Council?

Burge: “I have served the last four years as your Porter County Councilman--At Large. I served as Vice-President of the council in 2005 and 2006. I also served as the council liaison to the Porter County Planning Commission in 2006. Additionally, I have served as a council liaison to numerous county departments during the last four years.”

Carmichael: “I am an experienced Porer County Council member seeking re-election. I stand firm for good government and for fair play. I owned my own business for 40 years in Porter County until my retirement -- and our children and grandchildren live here. My roots are deep.”

Levi: “I have a bachelor degree in business with classes in accounting and an emphasis in human resource management. I am currently enrolled in graduate studies to further my education. I also have 23 years of small business experience dealing with customers in Porter County.”

Mrak: “I am an ordinary, taxpaying citizen who believes in representing taxpayers and their interests, rather than those of the established political hierarchy, special influence groups, and connected insiders. Because I owe no favors to anyone, I would be able to act in the taxpayers' best interests, as a true servant of the public.”

Snyder: “I have been a past member of the Porter Town Council and served on the Town Plan Commission for 4 years.”

2. Why are you running for county council?

Burge: “I have a vision for a very bright future for Porter County, and I wish to have a continued active role in trying to implement that vision. We need to fix the system so tax bills get out on time, improve the efficiency of county government, reform the structure, and make it more responsive to 21st century demands of the taxpayers. I keep an open mind on issues, I have been a voice of reason, I shoot straight with people, and I have the Courage to Act. I would like to ask for your vote for another four years to serve as your Councilman.

Carmichael: “I believe I can help keep Porter County on track with lower taxes and safe communities. I enjoy the challenge of solving problems. I believe I can help Porter County continue to provide the best possible way of life for its citizens.”

Levi: “I believe I can genuinely make a difference. County Council members need strong business practices and the ability to change from the business as usual practices we have had. My degree in business will help me focus on the changes needed and how to help improve all county departments.”

Mrak: “The present council displays a serious inability to engage in long-range planning. One-third of our jail sits unused because the council didn't foresee the need for resources to staff the facility. Also, after months of preparing a budget, revisions occur almost immediately after the start of the new year. Council meetings frequently consist of department heads asking for money transfers, additional employees, or increased salaries. I would impose fiscal discipline to the administration of the budget, and restore the idea that a budget should be a yearly plan, and not a constantly-shifting work in progress.”

Snyder: “When I completed my term on the Town Council, I returned to doing what I enjoy the most, being a grandmother. Then I started receiving calls from various past and elected officials including Ralph Ayres, Commissioner Evans, State Representative Ed Soliday, and Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas. They all cited the success of the teamwork of the Porter Town Council while I was a member and our ability to keep the town in Republican hands. They also believe that I can win in the fall. I am honored to be considered.”

3. What should be done with the proceeds of the sale of Porter Memorial Hospital?

Burge: “I feel the principle amount should be protected as a long term nest egg for the county, and we should just work with the annual interest of $5+ million per year. The key categories I feel the funds should be used for are: 1. Pay down county debts 2. Economic Development 3. Capital Building and infrastructure needs 4. Physical & Mental Health Projects of merit not covered by private hospital services.”

Carmichael: “The principal should be kept invested until the hospital situation in Porter County has been settled with the new hospital. The interest should be used to fund services necessary to keep Porter County the best place to live and raise a family.”

Levi: “I think we shuld invest the money and the interest. We can get advice from investment firms in Porter County to lead us in the right direction. I think in the next few years Porter County may need a nest egg and funds lost may be replaced by smart investing.”

Mrak: “Since the money was derived from the sale of a healthcare facility, the proceeds should be spent on health-related needs. The principal should be invested, and the interest earned would be applied to county health department efforts. Some worthy causes would be the immunization program, the county jail chemical dependency program, AIDS awareness and education, and subsidizing community-based clinics for working people who lack insurance, such as those operated in the Hilltop community and at the Portage High School.”

Snyder: “There needs to be both a short term and long term plan for the proceeds. One idea could be to repay the towns and school districts for the costs of having to borrow money to fund themselves because of the chaos currently at the County level. This chaos was evidenced by the fact that tax bills went out 11 months late and no money was coming into the county. Long term, I’m sure my party will have a plan and I know that I will be able to contribute as a candidate and previous town official to that plan.”

4. Porter County's taxing units are projected to lose an overall $9.6 million in 2010 due to the state's new tax caps. How should local government respond to the revenue loss at a time when the county's growth is placing more demands on police, jail, courts, and other services?

Burge: “All units of local government, including the schools, will need to find creative ways to maximize the effectiveness of the dollars they already have access to. We must look hard at each department and the services they provide and ask if it is a relevant function, or service, in the modern era.”

Carmichael: “I believe the CEDIT funds should only be used for economic development. We should continue to tighten our belts.”

Levi: “I would encourage the Council to review all budgets with an emphasis on improved customer service and long term effectiveness of any new expenditure. If services are not improved, costs are not reduced, overtime is uncontrolled and the public loss of confidence is not corrected by individual government units, the County must assume a greater role in fiscal responsibility.”

Mrak: “How much Porter County stands to lose from the tax caps is mere speculation at this point in time. Instead of hand-wringing about possible shortfalls, governmental bodies should be scrutinizing their expenses, and reprioritizing them to fit fiscal realities. County officials should be held accountable for (not) performing their duties. I find it appalling that outside consultants are being used to do what the auditor and assessor should be doing to process property tax bills. Implementing the recommendations of the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform to streamline county government would go a long way to alleviate any budget constraints.”

Snyder: “I’m not so sure the projected loss of revenue is accurate. Assuming it is, one of the things we successfully did in the Town of Porter was to cut spending. We achieved this by thinking “outside the box” and found new, efficient, and innovative ways of doing things. Government needs to do what every Porter County family does, and that is to live within its means. If cuts are necessary they must .. not punish our citizens by way of lack or disrupting services. In no way should the inefficiencies of government be placed on the back of taxpayers by raising taxes.”

5. What area of county government is in need of more attention, and what would you do to make the needed adjustments?

Burge: “The vast majority of our general fund dollars goes toward one element or another of the judicial system ... 4-5 thousand people (customers of the judicial process) out of 160,000 + residents are eating up most of everyone’s tax dollars. .... We need to shift more funds into programs that benefit a greater number of our citizens. Our parks system is one endeavor that can benefit nearly everyone. ....We need to also invest in youth sporting facilities such as state of the art baseball fields, soccer fields, and ice hockey facilities.... These activities go a long way to help keep kids out of the juvenile court system, which is currently consuming large sums of our tax dollars.”

Carmichael: “Current State legislation pose challenges to the way we conduct government in Porter County and it will take experienced county council members to meet those challenges.”

Levi: “We need to improve communication between the council and the departments of Porter County. The council can focus on spending and improving services, while encouraging various offices improve. Government is not efficient if consultants are constantly used to fix problems the council and varous departments should have addressed.”

Mrak: “The county should follow the Good Government Initiative study prepared for Lake County concerning the creation of a formal human resource management system to be applied to all county departments. A uniform program would involve staffing, policies and procedures, compensation, job descriptions and duties, hiring, training, evaluation, and promotion. Although this would not be the direct responsibility of the council, budgetary oversight of all county departments could be used as a lever to persuade the commissioners to act on this issue.”

Snyder: “Our current county government has no plan. Everything they do is in reaction from one crisis to another. Most of these crises are self induced by publicized inexperience, back biting, and inefficiencies. I will do my best to bring fresh new ideas to the table. I will work hard to communicate with elected leaders, department heads, and our citizens.”

Posted 4/23/2008