Watson, Monroe running in south district

Both candidates want to establish more unity in the community.

Their plans to address the issue differ.

Democrat Blake Watson and Republican Duane Monroe will face off in the race for the Jay County south commissioner district seat Nov. 5.

A 2001 Jay County High School graduate, Watson, 42, received his associate’s degree in human services and bachelor’s degree in social work from Indiana University East of Richmond. A resident of rural Richland Township, Watson also earned his master’s degree in gerontology from University of Indianapolis. He served as curator of Dunkirk Glass Museum for about four years and deputy director of Jay County Visitors and Tourism Bureau for about six years. He has been working for Retter Farms’ poultry egg facility in Jefferson Township for the last five years. He’s served on various boards, including Indiana University East Alumni Association Board of Directors, IU East Social Work Association Board of Directors, Jay County Visitors and Tourism Bureau Commission, Jay County Chamber of Commerce and Jay County Historical Society.

Monroe, 49, graduated from Jay County High School in 1993. The rural Portland resident earned his associate’s degree in applied science from Ivy Tech Community College in 2005 and works as a journeyman lineman for Jay County REMC. Monroe served for about 24 years on Jefferson Township Advisory Board and has been on the county’s road committee for about a decade. 

Monroe won the Republican primary for the south district commissioner seat in May, defeating incumbent Brian McGalliard. In the 2020 Republican primary, he lost to McGalliard in a three-way race that also included Barb Street. 

Monroe said he’s running for office to make a difference in the community. He pointed to tensions between commissioners and Jay County Development Corporation as one example.

“(I’m running to) just build a relationship mostly,” said Monroe. “I feel like it’s kind of been broken.”

“I just think, in general, everybody working together is the key,” he added.

Watson said he’s running for office to be an advocate for the middle class in Jay County.

“I’m running for the single mother, the single father, the factory worker in Jay County, the small family farmer,” he said. “I want to be a voice for those folks, you know, a positive voice to move this community forward.”

Watson’s goals include establishing a better grasp on democracy and equity within the community.

He noted that, if elected, he’ll work in a bipartisan fashion with other commissioners, pointing out he would be the minority party in the group.

“To me, democracy in Jay County is on life support,” he said. “Checks and balances (are) so important. It’s pivotal that we have two healthy parties that are able to be engaged and compete, you know, at the national, county and local level.”

Addressing ongoing talks between JCDC and the county, Monroe noted he’s supportive of a working relationship moving forward. He added that he believes he was chosen as the Republican candidate partially because of his stance on the issue.

“I’m for JCDC and what it stands for,” said Monroe. “I’m going to support it … they need to have a relationship, they need to work together. It obviously hasn’t been working together.”

After listening to folks while campaigning, Watson voiced some concerns from others about JCDC’s operations, specifically its board of directors and decisions it has made.

“I think we need to hit the reset button,” he said. 

Monroe noted recent news from Jay County Highway Department about the county’s aging timber bridges. (Portions of two county roads are currently closed because of unsafe bridges.) He talked about looking into cost-saving efforts for addressing damaged bridges and pointed to those repairs or replacements as a priority.

“If there is money out there, then that’s probably what we need to work on first, in my opinion,” he said. “And honestly, I feel like that’s what the county is for, is to maintain what we have and not try to make something that we don’t (have).”

Watson shared plans to make sure police are properly funded and contribute toward community safety and drug addiction rehabilitation initiatives. He shared his support for Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition.

“As county commissioner, I definitely look forward to working with those folks too, you know, to turn the tide of all the issues surrounding addiction in Jay County, and that’s a part of moving this whole community and county forward,” he said.

Watson would like to restructure how commissioners appoint representatives to boards, suggesting they advertise open positions to find a candidate and get the community involved. He would also like to propose moving commissioners’ meetings to a more convenient time for the public to be able to attend. 

Monroe questioned the county’s ability to pay for ongoing developments with building infrastructure for housing — an estimated $25.5 million project — on the county’s 68 acres on the west edge of Portland.

“We can’t afford a $1.1 million bridge,” he said. “How can we afford $25 million?” 

He noted there is a need for housing in the community but again voiced a desire for the county to prioritize maintaining its assets first.

Watson talked about a need to bring more residents into Jay County to expand the tax base. He believes most folks in Jay County want to see the 68 acres developed but pointed to other potential housing projects across the community. Referencing his platform, he advocated for equity regarding additional housing measures.

“We can’t just focus on one area in Jay County, there has to be a balance throughout the entire county as far as economic development, which includes housing,” he said.

Discussing county council’s choice in September to not allocate economic development income tax (EDIT) funding in commissioners’ 2025 budget, Monroe expressed support. (Funding will still be available, but must be requested via additional appropriations.)

“I was glad because I would like to be held accountable for my decisions on any kind of money making decisions,” Monroe said. “If I got an idea to do something, I would want them to be on board with it anyway.”

Monroe wants a chance as a commissioner to give it his best effort.

“Whatever I do, I try to be the best at that task,” Monroe said. “With that being said, I’m going to do my best, and I’m a community people type person anyway, so, and I love Jay County. I’ve lived here my whole life, I don’t want to see anything per se change, but I do want to see things change.”

For Watson, his campaign for the seat comes down to bringing a new voice to the table.

“ I know there’s a lot of people hurting out there financially, and, you know, having issues such as housing, addiction, raising (grandchildren),” he said. “I want to bring governance to Jay County that reflects the people’s issues and is responsible also on how, you know, I would go about decision-making involving issues surrounding the county and the people in it.”