July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Wagner, Barnett face off for coroner (10/14/04)
Appointed incumbent facing former two-term coroner
The woman appointed Jay County Coroner earlier this year will face off against a former two-term holder of that office in the general election on Nov. 2.
Republican Paulette Wagner, who was selected by a party caucus to fill the position after the resignation of the former county coroner, is opposed on the ballot by Democrat Mark Barnett, a Portland police officer and former coroner.
Barnett, 43, is a 16-year veteran of the Portland Police Department. He is currently a member of the Jay County Council — a position he has held since 2000. He served as county coroner from 1992 to 2000. He chose to give up his seat on the council to run for coroner.
He and wife Lisa Barnett live at 2338 East 200 North, Portland. The couple have one daughter.
A 1979 graduate of Jay County High School, Barnett is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. He is also a certified medicological death investigator through the Indiana State Coroner’s Association.
He is a member of the West Walnut Street Church of Christ, the Jay County Band Boosters and the Indiana State Coroner’s Association.
Wagner, 50, has worked for more than 14 years for Jay Emergency Medical Service.
A resident of 805 E. Walnut St., Portland, she is a 1973 graduate of Redkey High School. She is the mother of two grown sons and the grandmother of one.
Wagner has served as coroner since March of this year following the resignation of Brad Myers. This is her first run for elected office.
The holder of several medical certifications, Wagner is an instructor for emergency medical training and is a member of the National Criminal Justice Training Council and the Indiana State Coroner’s Asso-ciation.
Wagner at-tends Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
The Commercial Review recently asked both candidates questions about the upcoming election. Their answers follow.
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1)
Why are you running for county coroner? What makes you qualified for the position?
Wagner: Because of my strong interest in forensic science and my background in emergency response work. I feel that my 14-plus years experience in pre-hospital emergency care has given me some real insight into the coroner’s duties.
Barnett: I have eight years of experience as coroner and four years experience as a deputy coroner. I am Jay County’s first and only state certified medicological death investigator. Let me put my experience to work for you.
Briefly describe what you see as the role of the county coroner.
Barnett: The coroner “speaks for the dead.” You are an independent investigative agent who is called on all deaths which occur under suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstances, including deaths attended by a physician, can be made a coroner’s case. The coroner is also responsible to find the identification of the deceased, determination of the cause of death and determination of the manner of death. The coroner is an administrator above all else.
By living locally and being elected, the coroner is answerable to the people.
Wagner: I see the coroner’s position as a liaison between all agencies involved in death investigation.
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?
Wagner: As coroner of Jay County I would dedicate myself and my staff to the highest level of professionalism and training to fulfill all of the objectives of the office of coroner.
Barnett: I would do the job as coroner in a professional manner and to the best of my ability. And always remember that I work for the taxpayers of Jay County.[[In-content Ad]]
Republican Paulette Wagner, who was selected by a party caucus to fill the position after the resignation of the former county coroner, is opposed on the ballot by Democrat Mark Barnett, a Portland police officer and former coroner.
Barnett, 43, is a 16-year veteran of the Portland Police Department. He is currently a member of the Jay County Council — a position he has held since 2000. He served as county coroner from 1992 to 2000. He chose to give up his seat on the council to run for coroner.
He and wife Lisa Barnett live at 2338 East 200 North, Portland. The couple have one daughter.
A 1979 graduate of Jay County High School, Barnett is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. He is also a certified medicological death investigator through the Indiana State Coroner’s Association.
He is a member of the West Walnut Street Church of Christ, the Jay County Band Boosters and the Indiana State Coroner’s Association.
Wagner, 50, has worked for more than 14 years for Jay Emergency Medical Service.
A resident of 805 E. Walnut St., Portland, she is a 1973 graduate of Redkey High School. She is the mother of two grown sons and the grandmother of one.
Wagner has served as coroner since March of this year following the resignation of Brad Myers. This is her first run for elected office.
The holder of several medical certifications, Wagner is an instructor for emergency medical training and is a member of the National Criminal Justice Training Council and the Indiana State Coroner’s Asso-ciation.
Wagner at-tends Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
The Commercial Review recently asked both candidates questions about the upcoming election. Their answers follow.
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1)
Why are you running for county coroner? What makes you qualified for the position?
Wagner: Because of my strong interest in forensic science and my background in emergency response work. I feel that my 14-plus years experience in pre-hospital emergency care has given me some real insight into the coroner’s duties.
Barnett: I have eight years of experience as coroner and four years experience as a deputy coroner. I am Jay County’s first and only state certified medicological death investigator. Let me put my experience to work for you.
Briefly describe what you see as the role of the county coroner.
Barnett: The coroner “speaks for the dead.” You are an independent investigative agent who is called on all deaths which occur under suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstances, including deaths attended by a physician, can be made a coroner’s case. The coroner is also responsible to find the identification of the deceased, determination of the cause of death and determination of the manner of death. The coroner is an administrator above all else.
By living locally and being elected, the coroner is answerable to the people.
Wagner: I see the coroner’s position as a liaison between all agencies involved in death investigation.
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?
Wagner: As coroner of Jay County I would dedicate myself and my staff to the highest level of professionalism and training to fulfill all of the objectives of the office of coroner.
Barnett: I would do the job as coroner in a professional manner and to the best of my ability. And always remember that I work for the taxpayers of Jay County.[[In-content Ad]]
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