Experience plentiful in council race (11/02/06)

A former Jay County Councilman looking to regain a seat on the council is challenging an incumbent councilman who is completing his first term in that position.

Former county councilman Andy Schemenaur Jr., a Democrat, and Republican incumbent George Meehan, are vying for the Council District 4 seat that represents Jefferson, Pike, Madison and Noble Townships, along with Wayne 4, 5 and 6 precincts.

Meehan, a resident of 7624 East Ind. 26, Portland, served as Jay County Sheriff for eight years. He then worked as a custodian at the Jay County Courthouse and is now retired.

A graduate of Portland High School, he served in the National Guard for eight years and is a member of the American Legion, Eagles, and Moose lodges.

He has a son, John, a daughter, Rosalind, and four granddaughters.

Schemenaur formerly held an at-large seat on the council from 1988 until he was defeated in 2004 and has also served as a Noble Township Advisory Board member. He unsuccessfully sought the Jay County Treasurer's spot in 1984.

He has been employed in the Jay School Corporation for 18 years, and is currently serving as principal at East Elementary School. He also farms.

He and his wife, Pam, have a son, Wesley Schemenaur, and a daughter, Whitney Schemenaur.

Schemenaur is a member of the Bellefountain United Methodist Church where he is superintendent and Sunday school teacher. He is also a member of the Jay County Farmer's Union, Ball State Alumni Association, Phi Delta Kappa International, is on the board of directors of the John Jay Center for Learning, and serves on the board of directors for Green Park Cemetery.

A 1972 graduate of Portland High School, he attended International Business College in Fort Wayne, and graduated from Ball State University with bachelor of science and master of arts degrees, and earned a principal's license in elementary and middle school education. He is also a graduate of the Indiana Principal's Leadership Academy.

The candidates recently responded to questions presented by The Commercial Review. Here are their responses:

Why are you running for county council? What makes you qualified for the position?

Meehan - "I would like to continue to serve the community by using the experience I have gained from being an elected official and department head. This experience helps me to better manage the wants and needs of county offices and money available for services."

Schemenaur - "I want to provide voters of Jay County a voice in local government. Too often people feel as if their ideas don't matter, and I want to be the public servant that you deserve.

"I've served as a county councilman for 16 years, and on the advisory board before that.

"In addition, I've spent the majority of my professional life working as a problem solver. As a result, it would be a privilege to bring my years of experience to the table to assist the county with finding solutions to increasingly complex problems."

See Council page 2

What do you believe to be the most pressing issue before the council now? What is your position on that issue?

Meehan - "I believe the council's most important issue in the coming months will be dealing with the changes taking place in property tax assessments and the budget process and the impact those changes will have on the amount of dollars available for county services. It may be quite a challenge for the council to accomplish this balancing act."

Schemenaur - "TIF districts. I think it would be wise for the county to have as few of these districts as possible.

"If and when TIFs come into the picture, we need to have clear definable limits to these agreements to assure that they don't become liabilities to the county in the future. Perhaps, we should negotiate these agreements to correspond to the county's ability to pay back these monies in a timely manor that doesn't exceed 4-8 years. That way everyone shares in the risk."

Briefly describe what you see as the role of the county council.

Meehan - "The county council is the fiscal body of county government. It is the council's duty to ensure the counties financial well-being by setting budgets and tax rates that will allow for good services and at the same time keep the taxes as low as possible."

Schemenaur - "To be a good steward of the taxpayers money. Also, manage the county's department budgets in a responsible way. A council member needs to be wise to the decisions they make, as they will have long lasting effects."

If there is one thing you want to make sure the voters know about you or the office you are seeking, what would that be?

Meehan - "I have really enjoyed my many years of public service and would like to continue to serve. I am more than willing to listen to both the taxpayer and county employees and to do my best with the county tax dollar."

Schemenaur - "I believe that as a life-long Jay County resident and farmer, I possess the necessary foresight and restraint to enable Jay County to maintain our position as a leader in pursuing economic opportunities for the next generation. A vote for Andy Schemenaur is a vote for your voice in county government, and if elected I will work hard to keep the public's trust in this office."[[In-content Ad]]