It's about experience

One candidate is seeking his first post in county government. The other wants to shift into a new role.
Both believe they have the experience to serve as a Jay County Commissioner.
Republican Chuck Huffman and Democrat Ted Champ are vying for the south district seat after Jim Zimmerman, the Republican incumbent, chose not to run for a third term.
Huffman, a 1975 Dunkirk High School graduate, has been involved in local banking for more than 30 years. He believes his professional experience in finance, budgeting and human resources makes him a qualified candidate.
A rural Dunkirk resident, he also believes he knows “the pulse of the community.”
He has been president of boards for Jay County Development Corporation, United Way, Arts Place and West Jay Community Center. He is also on the boards of The Dunkirk Foundation and Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation, and is a member of Dunkirk Investment Group.
Champ is currently in the midst of his second term on county council, and previously served on Jay School Board. He’s been a bricklayer for nearly 40 years and is president of Local 4 of the bricklayers’ union, which includes all of Indiana and part of Kentucky.
“I’ve got the experience, the knowledge. I care about Jay County,” said Champ, a 1973 Redkey High School graduate. “I want my grandkids to grow up in Jay County and want this to be place where everyone can be proud to be from.”
Both candidates recently sat down for individual interviews with The Commercial Review. A synopsis of their views on key issues follows.
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Flooding
Resolving the county’s flooding problem is a top priority for each candidate.   
Both are in favor of moving forward on a regional detention plan presented to commissioners in July.
A final cost has not be set on the plan proposed by engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Suefert, which was hired by commissioners to study the Millers Branch flooding problem and help develop a comprehensive drainage plan.

“Everything’s dependent on cost, but yeah, I think it makes a lot of sense because you’ve got to slow the water down coming into Portland and speed it up going out of Portland,” said Huffman.
Champ echoed similar sentiments, noting continual flooding could mean a loss of businesses in Portland.
“If we can afford it, absolutely,” he said of the plan.

Budget
When it comes to county finances, Champ and Huffman both believe there’s room to tighten up the budget.                                                       
A member of Jay County Budget Committee, Champ has emphasized in recent meetings the need to look at altering health insurance benefits for part-time elected officials as well as the amount of paid days off for new county employees. He’d also like to see issues resolved in the county’s pay classification system.
As commissioner, Champ feels he can help save taxpayers money by pushing for and identifying the “lowest best bid” on county projects.  
There’s no one glowing area to resolve the county’s budget woes, Huffman said.
“You’ve got to get down in the weeds in every area,” he said.
If elected, he plans to work closely with department heads and help them find ways to streamline efficiency.
He mentioned the need to continue work to solve Jay Emergency Medical Service’s budget woes.
On the use of an outside consultant to guide the budgeting process, the candidates diverge.
Huffman said he had reservations about hiring financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz, who directed the Jay County Budget Committee.  
“I think he has offered some good suggestions. I do think our county auditor is probably capable of doing a lot of what he was really doing,” Huffman said.
Champ wouldn’t mind keeping Guerrettaz on board for awhile longer.
“For the cost to the taxpayer of having another professional set of eyes there, I’m OK with it for a while,” Champ said. “I’m not going to say forever, but (I’m) OK with it until we get this thing turned around and back where we should be.”

Confined feeding
On confined feeding, both expressed satisfaction with the proposed changes in zoning regulations that have been developed in the two-year process to alter them.
“The way I feel about that is I’m happy where they are, where it appears they are because, you know, the process we went through to get there,” Huffman said.
He felt the study group tasked with offering recommendations to the plan commission had qualified individuals that provided balance on the issue.
On confined feeding, balance is a priority for Champ. He stressed the importance of the agricultural industry to the county and the need to balance its needs with area residents.
“We have to be able to work that fine line between both,” he said.

Roads
Regarding county infrastructure, the candidates are in favor of converting as many stone roads into hard surfaces, as funds allow.
Both see chip-and-seal roads as the more feasible option.
“Chip and seal is obviously more economical to do, so that’s probably the way you’d go on converting stone roads,” said Huffman, who also stressed the importance making sure there are funds to maintain converted and paved roads.  
“Some people don’t like the chip and seal. I’m not going to say I’m a big fan of chip and seal, but the cost of chip and seal compared to paving … it’s like, you’re not comparing an apple to an apple,” said Champ.
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While both are well-versed in the issues, the two candidates believe experience also matters.
Huffman thinks his background gives him the tools to serve as a commissioner.
Not knowing what issues may come before commissioners in a four-year term, he said it is importance to elect someone with the qualifications to study and handle a range of topics.
Champ sees his years on council as an asset for improving county government. He noted a lack of communication sometimes between council and commissioners. If elected, he hopes to fill those gaps.