Five Democrats on ballot for Redkey Council (04/28/06)

REDKEY — Five Democrats will be vying for their party's nomination for two positions on the Redkey Town Council in Tuesday’s primary election.

The town's financial problems were listed as the primary concern facing the community in response to a recent questionnaire which was sent to all the candidates.

No Republican candidates and no incumbents are running in the primary.

The five candidates, all Democrats, include Terry A. Miller, 135 N. Ash St.; Charles Noble, 123 S. Meridian St.; Douglas "Doug" Stanley, 252 S. Harrison St.; Zeb L. Sutton, 8896 West Ind. 67; and Terri Taylor, 214 W. High St.

Below is biographical information about the candidates, as well as their responses to two questions relating to Redkey and its current needs.

Terry A. Miller

Miller runs his own construction business.

He was born in Muncie, and raised in Redkey. He is 35 years old and a graduate of Jay County High School.

In addition to owning his own business, Miller's Construction of Redkey, he is a member of the Redkey Volunteer Fire Department. His wife is Maureen (Grady) Miller.

Charles Noble

Noble is the owner-manager of the Key Palace Theatre in Redkey.

He was born and raised in Muncie, and graduated from Royerton High School. He also studied drama for two years at the Goodman School of Theater in Chicago.

Noble is a retired iron worker and millwright. He has lived in Redkey for the past 27 years.

Douglas Stanley

Stanley is retired. He previously served as a member of the Redkey Town Council from 1984 to 1989.

Stanley is a Muncie native who was raised in Dunkirk. He graduated from Dunkirk High School and attended Ball State University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired from Westinghouse-ABB Power Transformer.

He has lived in Redkey for 42 years.

A widower, he has two children and six grandchildren.

Stanley served on the Redkey Town Board from 1984 to 1989. He is a former member of the board of Jay County Development Corporation

Zeb Sutton

Sutton is a substitute teacher for the Jay School Corporation in addition to being the boys track coach at West Jay Middle School.

He was raised in Redkey and graduated from Jay County High School. He later went to the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne where he played on the football team.

He is currently studying to finish his teaching degree at Ball State University. He is majoring in social studies.

Sutton, 27, has a 2-year-old daughter, Chloe.

He has worked for the Jay County Sheriff’s Department and owns Pitstop Pizza in Ridgeville. He is also a member of the Redkey Optimist Club.

Terri Taylor

Taylor has been a regular attendee at town council meetings for several years.

She is a mother and grandmother who has also been active with the Redkey American Legion Post and its auxiliary unit.

Taylor is a graduate of Jay County High School.

She and husband Doug Taylor have three children, three-stepchildren and 17 grandchildren.

She is the former vice president of the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers (IUE) Local 320; coordinated the restoration project for Redkey War Mothers Monument and recording secretary of Redkey Fun for Kidz organization.

Following are the candidates' responses.

1. Why did you decide to run for Redkey Town Council?

Miller: Because I was very dissatisfied about the way our town council does business.

Noble: They (the town board members) don't plan ahead. Hopefully, we can straighten some of that out with better organization and planning.

Stanley: The Redkey board has experienced some difficult financial problems recently. I think I can help.

Sutton: There’s a lot of good people in Redkey. I felt I had enough education and life experiences that I could contribute back to the community.

Taylor: One of my reasons for running for Redkey Town Council is because I am aware of the status of our town and what is awaiting therein. I am eager to make a positive contribution to not only the town but its people.



2. What do you think are the most pressing problems facing the town, and how do you feel you could help to solve them?

Miller: The most pressing problem facing our town is the current financial condition. The town council doesn't care about how they spend our taxpayers' money. I would like to stop the nonsense spending.

Noble: Money — it's the money and the town boards in the last four to five years haven't communicated with anybody, and then we've fallen in the cracks ... tightening up our shoestrings and tightening our belts ... business sense and common sense. Thankfully, there are five candidates running for the town board to help straighten the situation out. This shows that at least people are interested and more candidates are interested about straightening out that debacle.

Stanley: Concerning the financial problems, I believe the board must curb spending with a very specific priority process that allows the various departments to continue basic operations without unnecessary expenditures. The board also needs a meeting agenda that provides better communication and less confusion among its members as well as the town's employees and those doing business with the town.

Sutton: I would like to see a little more community involvement back in the town. I think we need to get more community events, more fairs and bigger ones. Let’s be proud to be Redkey citizens again.

Taylor: I feel there is a severe financial status and it is important for us to tighten our belts and do our best to resolve these issues.

Another reason for running is that I feel there is a severe lack of communication. Within the issues listed above, without effective communication with the board and town these goals will be very difficult to meet. To sum up what my top goal is, is not hard. My top goal is to have the privilege to help govern a town that is in need of unity and financial stability.[[In-content Ad]]