July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Hosier facing challenge from Sanders (11/01/07)
Incumbent asking for another term
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
After nearly four years in office, Bruce Hosier is ready for another round.
Hosier, 51, 402 W. 12th St., is the incumbent in Portland's mayoral race. This is the Republican's first term in office, after two unsuccessful attempts at the office.
The former Portland police officer and city council member will face off at the polls Tuesday with current city council member Jim Sanders, a Democrat.
Hosier is a graduate of Portland High School, the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and the National Intelligence Academy. He served two terms with the Portland City Council, and was a four-year member of the Portland planning Commission. He beat former mayor Maxine Lewis in the 2003 mayoral election.
During his time in office, Hosier has had a hand in the creation of a tax increment financing (TIF) district, a city redevelopment commission, the progression of Hudson Family Park, the widening of Industrial Park Drive and the creation of an ethanol plant southwest of the city. Future projects on the horizon for the city include the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project, and the extension of Lafayette Street west to Industrial Park Drive.
"I think that the change is evident," Hosier said. "I think we have really laid the ground work ... for opportunity."
When asked if he has any regrets or would have done anything differently during his time as mayor, Hosier said, "Well I think if you're going to have an honest assessment of yourself you always look back. But for the most part ... I know that I've always tried to approach everything with the highest level of integrity ... I think to do an honest assessment of yourself you always look back.
"I know in my gut and my heart that I approach things in an honest ... manner. I'm pretty confident with the things we have done in the past four years."
Hosier declined to give himself a letter grade in terms of his performance as the city's mayor. "I think in terms of commitment and providing leadership and opportunities for our community, I think we should get a high level," he said.
The mayor has been married to his wife Deb for 31 years. He has three grown daughters, and is a member of Praise Chapel Church.
He has been appointed to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' Inter-Government Relations Committee, on which he has served two years. He currently also is a member of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Economic Development and Legislative committees; the IACT executive board; the mayor's council for Energize East Central Indiana; Jay County Development Corporation; the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce; the Portland Economic Development Corporation; and the Portland Board of Works.
Hosier said his background as a police officer and councilman helped prepare him for the job.
"Those experiences I think allowed me to have a good insight. I think (it) allowed me to have an easier transition if you will."
In response to criticism from Sanders about the fact that all members of the Portland Board of Works are Republican, Hosier said that the board hasn't always been that way under his guidance. Before Democrat Linda Kennedy became the city's clerk-treasurer, she was a member of the board of works, he said.
If Hosier is elected to a second term as mayor, he expects taxes to be a hot topic in the future.
"I think there's no doubt that the tax structure going on in Indiana certainly is of great interest. I have faith and the confidence that leadership will prevail. I think sometimes, you know, you play the cards you're dealt."
"I think we've worked hard and we've earned (a second term)," he said.[[In-content Ad]]By JACK RONALD
Jim Sanders thinks he can do better.
That's why the 62-year-old retired postal worker is running as the Democratic candidate for mayor of Portland.
Sanders, 602 S. Western Ave., is in his second year as a member of the Portland City Council. A graduate of Portland High School, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force. A postal employee for 24 years, he earlier worked at Portland Forge and is a past president of Local 1620 of the Blacksmiths Union.
He served on the Portland Planning Commission for 10 years and is a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, the American Legion, and Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association.
"I think there need to be some changes," Sanders said in an interview this week. "I'd like to see people become more involved."
Sanders is challenging first-term Republican incumbent mayor Bruce Hosier.
"He does things his way," Sanders said of Hosier. "I don't agree with his way of doing things." Sanders said he would give Hosier "probably about a C" on his report card for his four years in office.
"It's not my intention to throw dirt at him," he said. He added that voters have told him of their unhappiness with the Hosier administration.
"They're awful disgruntled with the mayor right now," he said. "They feel they're not having a lot of say about what's going on."
The challenger focused his criticism on how city business is conducted by the Portland Board of Works.
"Right now, the board of works handles all the money decisions. And they (board of works members) are all appointed by the mayor," Sanders said. "My priority would be to have the board of works changed. ... I wouldn't have it all one party."
Sanders also criticized Hosier for what he perceived as an effort to discourage the Portland City Council from asking questions at council meetings. "No way would I ever say the council should not ask questions," he said.
The Democrat said there would be "a few changes" in city department heads if he is elected, but he had good words for police chief Robert Sours. "I would probably make no changes there," Sanders said of the Portland Police Department.
He added that, in his opinion, Hosier has been micro-managing some city departments rather than allowing department heads to do their jobs.
Sanders said he supports the city's efforts in the recent development of POET Biorefining's ethanol plant. "That'd be a goal every day, to get more jobs," he said.
Sanders said he sees the mayor's job as "getting the city's business done day by day. It's not what I want done. It's what the people of Portland - the taxpayers - what they want done."
He added, "I think I'm a good "people person.' I think I'm a good do-er when it comes time to do it. ... Portland's been good to me for 62 years. I'd kind of like to return the favor."
Sanders also noted that he has run into some voter confusion because he shares a name with a local resident who has been a high-profile critic of rising property taxes.
"There's two Jim Sanders," he said with a chuckle. "I don't know whether that's good or bad."
Hosier, 51, 402 W. 12th St., is the incumbent in Portland's mayoral race. This is the Republican's first term in office, after two unsuccessful attempts at the office.
The former Portland police officer and city council member will face off at the polls Tuesday with current city council member Jim Sanders, a Democrat.
Hosier is a graduate of Portland High School, the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and the National Intelligence Academy. He served two terms with the Portland City Council, and was a four-year member of the Portland planning Commission. He beat former mayor Maxine Lewis in the 2003 mayoral election.
During his time in office, Hosier has had a hand in the creation of a tax increment financing (TIF) district, a city redevelopment commission, the progression of Hudson Family Park, the widening of Industrial Park Drive and the creation of an ethanol plant southwest of the city. Future projects on the horizon for the city include the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project, and the extension of Lafayette Street west to Industrial Park Drive.
"I think that the change is evident," Hosier said. "I think we have really laid the ground work ... for opportunity."
When asked if he has any regrets or would have done anything differently during his time as mayor, Hosier said, "Well I think if you're going to have an honest assessment of yourself you always look back. But for the most part ... I know that I've always tried to approach everything with the highest level of integrity ... I think to do an honest assessment of yourself you always look back.
"I know in my gut and my heart that I approach things in an honest ... manner. I'm pretty confident with the things we have done in the past four years."
Hosier declined to give himself a letter grade in terms of his performance as the city's mayor. "I think in terms of commitment and providing leadership and opportunities for our community, I think we should get a high level," he said.
The mayor has been married to his wife Deb for 31 years. He has three grown daughters, and is a member of Praise Chapel Church.
He has been appointed to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' Inter-Government Relations Committee, on which he has served two years. He currently also is a member of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Economic Development and Legislative committees; the IACT executive board; the mayor's council for Energize East Central Indiana; Jay County Development Corporation; the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce; the Portland Economic Development Corporation; and the Portland Board of Works.
Hosier said his background as a police officer and councilman helped prepare him for the job.
"Those experiences I think allowed me to have a good insight. I think (it) allowed me to have an easier transition if you will."
In response to criticism from Sanders about the fact that all members of the Portland Board of Works are Republican, Hosier said that the board hasn't always been that way under his guidance. Before Democrat Linda Kennedy became the city's clerk-treasurer, she was a member of the board of works, he said.
If Hosier is elected to a second term as mayor, he expects taxes to be a hot topic in the future.
"I think there's no doubt that the tax structure going on in Indiana certainly is of great interest. I have faith and the confidence that leadership will prevail. I think sometimes, you know, you play the cards you're dealt."
"I think we've worked hard and we've earned (a second term)," he said.[[In-content Ad]]By JACK RONALD
Jim Sanders thinks he can do better.
That's why the 62-year-old retired postal worker is running as the Democratic candidate for mayor of Portland.
Sanders, 602 S. Western Ave., is in his second year as a member of the Portland City Council. A graduate of Portland High School, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force. A postal employee for 24 years, he earlier worked at Portland Forge and is a past president of Local 1620 of the Blacksmiths Union.
He served on the Portland Planning Commission for 10 years and is a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, the American Legion, and Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association.
"I think there need to be some changes," Sanders said in an interview this week. "I'd like to see people become more involved."
Sanders is challenging first-term Republican incumbent mayor Bruce Hosier.
"He does things his way," Sanders said of Hosier. "I don't agree with his way of doing things." Sanders said he would give Hosier "probably about a C" on his report card for his four years in office.
"It's not my intention to throw dirt at him," he said. He added that voters have told him of their unhappiness with the Hosier administration.
"They're awful disgruntled with the mayor right now," he said. "They feel they're not having a lot of say about what's going on."
The challenger focused his criticism on how city business is conducted by the Portland Board of Works.
"Right now, the board of works handles all the money decisions. And they (board of works members) are all appointed by the mayor," Sanders said. "My priority would be to have the board of works changed. ... I wouldn't have it all one party."
Sanders also criticized Hosier for what he perceived as an effort to discourage the Portland City Council from asking questions at council meetings. "No way would I ever say the council should not ask questions," he said.
The Democrat said there would be "a few changes" in city department heads if he is elected, but he had good words for police chief Robert Sours. "I would probably make no changes there," Sanders said of the Portland Police Department.
He added that, in his opinion, Hosier has been micro-managing some city departments rather than allowing department heads to do their jobs.
Sanders said he supports the city's efforts in the recent development of POET Biorefining's ethanol plant. "That'd be a goal every day, to get more jobs," he said.
Sanders said he sees the mayor's job as "getting the city's business done day by day. It's not what I want done. It's what the people of Portland - the taxpayers - what they want done."
He added, "I think I'm a good "people person.' I think I'm a good do-er when it comes time to do it. ... Portland's been good to me for 62 years. I'd kind of like to return the favor."
Sanders also noted that he has run into some voter confusion because he shares a name with a local resident who has been a high-profile critic of rising property taxes.
"There's two Jim Sanders," he said with a chuckle. "I don't know whether that's good or bad."
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