April 11, 2015 at 5:19 a.m.
Four seek three spots on ballot
Editor’s note: This story is the first in our series covering the May primary elections. All coverage will stay active on our website through election day.
Outside of Portland the lone race in the municipal primary election is for Redkey Town Council.
Four Democrats — Greg Curme, Ted Friddle, “Watermellon” Jim Phillips and Doug Stanley — are competing for three spots on the ticket for the general election. The winners will square off against Republican David Dudelston, who is unopposed in the primary, in November.
Friddle and Curme are both incumbents seeking a second term while current council president Kyle Champ chose not to run for re-election. Stanley and Phillips are both former town council members.
Curme works in lawn care and is a graduate of Jay County High School.
Friddle is superintendent for Thieneman Construction and went to trade school for four years after high school.
Phillips is retired from General Motors.
Stanley, a 1960 Dunkirk High School graduate, is retired as a marketing representative for Westinghouse/ABB, served in the U.S. Air Force and was a founding member and past president of Jay County Development Corporation. He has served three terms on Redkey Town Council.
The candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire from The Commercial Review. Their answers follow.
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Why are you running for a seat on council?
Curme: To help town get back on its feet. To move ahead with state and federal government. To give the people of Redkey the comfort they deserve in knowing the board is here for them.
Phillips: I believe that civil government is a divine calling for the good and betterment of all the people and they should be honored, obeyed and prayed for except when they go against our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for Jesus is the long Lord of the conscience.
Stanley: I feel I can help with current projects and future projects and issues.
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What do you see as the biggest issue facing Redkey and how would you handle it?
Curme: Downtown cleanup and getting empty buildings filled with new businesses. To try to give Redkey a brighter future that it once had.
Friddle: Money. We have to watch our budgets and try to cut back when it does not have an adverse affect on the residents of the town.
Phillips: Money, money, money. The way I would handle it is by lowering every homeowner’s water bill by 50 percent. Then nobody would have to worry about where all of that money went.
Stanley: The biggest issue I think is the cost of the sewer separation project to the residents. I agree with town officials to proceed with the project. It is badly needed. However, there will be added monthly expense to our citizens. I want to explore ways to find as much cost relief as possible. For example, I don’t agree with the current practice of charging residents for water shutoffs during business hours. I also think we should look at allowing two water adjustments per calendar year instead of just one. We have done this in the past.
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What makes you the best candidate for the position?
Curme: I am a lifer of the town and I know the biggest part of the people in town. I want to help my town on every issue.
Friddle: I’m really starting to understand how government works. I am responsible for keeping projects on budget at my full-time job, and I try to transfer that to town business.
Phillips: Just as sure as watermelons are sweet, I’m Watermellon Jim and the one people don’t want to see get beat.
Stanley: It would have to be experience. I have served many years on the council. I have a good understanding of ordinances, budgets, needs of law enforcement, streets, water and wastewater treatment facilities and operations.
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