Four seek Dem nod in Dunkirk

Four Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination for clerk-treasurer in Dunkirk.
Phonnie Wright, Ailesia Franklin, Debbie Stewart-McDaniel and Elizabeth Shoopman will be on the ballot for the May 3 primary. No Republican candidates filed for the primary although the party will be able to slate a candidate for the fall election if it chooses.
Wright is a Jay County High School graduate and holds an associate’s degree in legal administration from Ivy Tech. She currently works as a legal supervisor for Welch and Co., LLC., Muncie. She has also worked for attorney Robert S. Koor and Frisch and Associates.
She has not held public office before, but is a current member of the Dunkirk Moose Lodge and Dunkirk American Legion and was a past member of the Dunkirk Fire Department Auxiliary.
Franklin holds two college degrees, a bachelor’s degree in business information technology and an associate’s in secretarial with a word processing option. She serves as the director of the Dunkirk Public Library and is executive director of the Dunkirk Glass Museum.
She has not held political office but serves as a member of the Dunkirk Improvement Committee since 2005 and has been a poll worker. She has also served as a Cub Scout leader and is a member of the West Jay Optimist Club.
Stewart-McDaniel has been employed with First Merchants Bank as a commercial loans quality officer and at Ludwigs and Stewart Brothers as an office employee.
She has been a member of the Westlawn PTO, including serving as co-president, as well as been a Dunkirk Junior League softball coach and Girl Scouts troop leader.
Shoopman did not return a candidate questionnaire to The Commercial Review.
The Commercial Review asked candidates five questions about their candidacy:
CR: Why are you running for your party’s nomination for this office?
Wright: I have lived in the Dunkirk community for most of my life and have attended every regular council meeting for the past 2 ½ years.  Through this, I have noticed some problems that exist and have been moved to act.  I believe that I can make a positive difference and make this office run more efficiently. I would be totally committed to serving the citizens and tax payers of Dunkirk. My experience and abilities would be best used to assist and support my community by providing proper accounting principles, to itemize every dollar received and spent by our city.  Additionally, we would file liens against property owners who neglect to pay outstanding water and sewage bills, thus building revenue for our community.  I would promise to provide fast, friendly, and efficient service, when citizens enter the City Office.  I will do my best to remedy the current problems in the City Clerk’s Office,(as evident from the most recent State Board of Accounts’ Report), and follow the rules and regulations set by statute.  I will make sure that the Clerk’s Office is held accountable for our tax dollars.
Franklin: (Did not answer question)
Stewart-McDaniel: Dunkirk means a lot to me and I want to do my best and be an asset for Dunkirk.
CR: What relevant experience do you bring to the office as a candidate?
Wright: Although, I have no political experience, I do have the accounting and business background.  My legal, payroll, and managerial experience will allow me to maintain the office to the standards set by the State.  I am personable, which is something that I feel is lacking by the current staff.  I believe that customer service is crucial and would ensure that my staff convey this respect to everyone visiting the clerk’s office.
Franklin: I have 10 years experience in governmental budgeting.  Cities and libraries operate under many of the same laws and guidelines and I have experience in these areas.  I also have a total of over 25 years of Accounting, Office Management and Public Relations.
Stewart-McDaniel: I have experience in bookkeeping, payroll, office management, training, minute-taking, legal documents and other office duties.
CR: What do you believe to be the biggest challenges facing the clerk-treasurer’s office over the next several years?
Wright: I believe the major issues are specifically in the clerk’s office, itself.  There are many things that can be done, more efficiently.  Whether it be procedural or accounting principles that are being ignored; things are not being done as they should be.  I have attended council meetings for the past 2 ½ years and there are so many issues that have been brought up in these meetings, to address the problems within the clerk’s office.  First on the agenda is organization.  The State Board of Accounts report, issued Fall 2010, showed that money had been moved, deposited, or claims paid from the incorrect accounts, contracts and items have been misplaced, funds have not been deposited, as timely as they should be.  Despite bringing these examples to the attention of this office, these problems still have not been corrected.  This inaction has prompted me into action.   I intend to work on getting all of these things corrected.  I intend to know every aspect of the running of the clerk’s office, using support staff, only to assist, not to guide.  Our current clerk delegates duties.  However, I will make sure my staff is thoroughly trained to make sure everyone knows exactly what to do and how to handle any situation.  What my staff does will reflect on me and if things are done incorrectly, that too will reflect on me and my position. I ultimately will be responsible for anything that occurs in the clerk’s office, so I intend to make sure everyone acts, accordingly.  Respect is a key thing to making sure the office runs smoothly.  I expect a level of respect and I will in turn show it.
Franklin: I feel the biggest challenge is to manage the city’s operations efficiently and maintain a reasonable budget that can operate our city without over taxing the community.  Due to all the cuts local governments are facing statewide, this will be an ongoing challenge.
Stewart-McDaniel: Keeping the lines of communication open between the Dunkirk citizens, Dunkirk employees and town officials.
CR: What is Dunkirk’s greatest asset?
Wright: The people of Dunkirk are its greatest asset.  We have bankers, factory workers, police, fire, white collar, blue collar; we have great schools and businesses.  Most of us have grown up and gone to school here and have a vested interest to see Dunkirk succeed, as a thriving community again.  We all want to be proud of our City.
Frankin: The heritage of a glass town which is showcased in our Glass Museum.
Stewart-McDaniel: Dunkirk’s greatest asset is our citizens. We see this in the hard work it has taken to get our community center and keep it going for all ages. Also, we see it in our beautification committee, Glass Days committee, our many churches and other organizations.
CR: What is Dunkirk’s largest liability?
Wright: The main liability I can think of is a lack of jobs in our community.  With the loss of Indiana Glass, a lot of our citizens have had to find other jobs, requiring that Dunkirk’s residents travel elsewhere.  This is creating a lack of income for our city, and I believe that I can do my part by creating revenue through the clerk’s office.  
Franklin: The decline of businesses in the recent years has left our downtown looking vacant.  However, we are still a vibrant town with lots to offer any visitor.   I believe our town is still strong and is rebuilding a strong community.
Stewart-McDaniel: Economy is Dunkirk’s largest liability. With the loss of business and jobs and competing with larger cities. We need to promote growth in our downtown community and support our home town.[[In-content Ad]]