District 1 candidates discuss distribution of county money

Public safety is the main concern for Sue West, the Republican incumbent candidate for Monroe County Council, District 1, she said. \nThe county council appropriates the funds used by the county and its officers, which include the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, she said. If re-elected, she will be involved in approving the department's funding.\n"The Sheriff's Department has only three cars at a time patrolling the area of Monroe County that is not included in the Bloomington city limits," West said.\nConstructing a juvenile center for Monroe County is another important issue for West.\nWest said she believes it is important to find a way to work with the county commissioners -- the legislative branch, as well as circuit courts which make up the judicial branch. A new judge will be added by Jan. 1, 2008, and West said that it will be important to work with the new judge and the rest of the judicial branch to accomplish the construction of a juvenile center for Monroe County.\n"Kids currently have to be sent out of the county," said West.\nThe cost of transporting juveniles to other centers puts more strain on the county budget, West said.\nWest has been a member of the council for four years and was elected council president at the beginning of her second year. She believes she has the right kind of experience to be a member of the council that approves the county budget and sets the tax rates, she said.