Small elections can make big difference to Monroe County

With all the glamour of the presidential elections, it's sometimes easy to forget that the little guy can have a big impact.\nAnd that includes the 2004 candidates for a bevy of Monroe County positions. This year's ballot features contests between Republicans and Democrats for positions on county council at-large, county commission and circuit court judgeship.\nThe Monroe County Council serves as the main fiscal body of the county, which means it sets taxes, delegates money to social services and decides whether to approve the county commission budget. As both incumbents up for re-election were defeated in the primaries, the race is up for grabs.\n"We keep the water clean and the trash picked up," said Michael Wood, the Democratic candidate for county council. "Every day you get touched a hundred times by the county government -- that's why it's so important to have people you trust."\nWood said he would "like to see the county council become more proactive" in addressing jail overcrowding and the creation of a juvenile treatment facility. His opponent, Republican Andy Dodds, echoed his concerns.\n"(Jail overcrowding and a juvenile treatment facility) are what I could consider very huge issues," he said. "They've been talked about now for several years. It's up the council to find that funding."\nDodds stressed the importance of citizens voting for county council.\n"Their livelihood and tax bill depends on it," he said.\nThe Monroe County Commission acts as the executive branch for the county government, or, as Democratic candidate Mike Englert puts it, "like the three-headed mayor for the county." The commission is in charge of roads, parks, buildings and the appointment of officials to various county boards and commissions.\n"Because they sit on different boards and commissions, they actually have a big impact on solid waste management," he said, tacking on jail overcrowding and community corrections as partial responsibilities. "They're the ones who spearhead those efforts."\nRepublican County Commissioner candidates Joyce Poling and Jeff Ellington could not be reached as of press time.\nEnglert said he feels the commission needs to act sooner on problems.\n"I would like to see more leadership that doesn't wait until the crisis situation," he said. "Right now the jail is in a crisis situation because (it's) being sued (for its overcrowding problem)."\nAlso up for election are seats one, four and seven of the 10th District Circuit Court. Although Democratic candidates run unopposed for seats one and four, seat seven remains contested by Democrat Stephen Galvin and Republican Jeffrey Chalfant. Starting Jan. 1, the circuit courts will have jurisdiction over divorce and civil cases.\n"(Judgeships) have a tremendous impact. The judges every day make decisions about the health and safety of your family," said Galvin, who currently serves as an attorney for the Monroe County Office of Family and Children. "Every day, I deal with children who have been horribly abused and neglected. You can see that it stretches into every conceivable aspect of life in the community."\nChalfant also talked about the impact judges can have on families in both civil and divorce cases.\n"The child is the most important product of any marriage, so how the child's best interests are handled in courts is very important," he said. "And when you talk about civil cases, you could potentially have your life savings taken away."\nChalfant discussed the importance of making an informed decision when voting for circuit court judges, who serve a term of six years.\n"You need a judge who knows the law," he said. "You need a judge who has common sense. He needs to take all of those qualities, listen to the evidence, to apply the law to the facts and to render a fair judgement."\nWhile the presidential and gubernatorial elections may benefit from the national spotlight, each candidate interviewed emphasized the importance of voting all the way down the ballot.\n"The adage that all politics is local rings very true," said county council candidate Sophia Travis. "Nowhere can you better see the results of participating in the process than locally."\nFor a listing of the 2004 Monroe County ballot, visit www.co.monroe.in.us/clerk/Candidates.html.\n-- Contact city & state editor Mike McElroy at mmcelroy@indiana.edu.