How would candidates for Logansport mayor plan to work with the county?

Apr. 28—The relationship between Cass County and the City of Logansport can best be described as fluid.

Both entities work for the interests of their constituents; sometimes that can bring conflict, and many other times it brings collaboration.

A positive relationship between the city and county is an asset for any community, and the candidates for mayor of Logansport all have ideas on how to keep the relationship healthy.

Ahead of the primary on Tuesday, May 2, the Pharos-Tribune sent the same questionnaires to all seven candidates participating in the primary elections for Logansport mayor. Six of the seven responded and their answers will be published each day leading up to the primary.

Four Democrats and three Republicans are vying for the top seat in Logansport, including incumbent Mayor Chris Martin. Joining Martin on the Republican ballot are former Logansport code enforcement officer Johnny Quinones and James McKeever, who worked in planning and engineering at Logansport Utilities for four decades.

Democrat candidates include former mayor and educator Dave Kitchell, Logansport city council president Jacob LeDonne, retired Indiana State Police and current city council member Larry Hood, and former city council member Terry Doran.

Early voting for the 2023 municipal primary election is already underway. Voters in Indiana are permitted to vote in the partisan primary of the individual's choosing. A voter does not need to be registered with one party to vote for that party in the primary. However, voters cannot vote for both parties in the primary.

Candidates were limited to a word count for responses, and responses are in their own words. Responses may have been edited for length and punctuation.

Dave Kitchell

We're going to agree on many joint things we already do, including central dispatching, the Field of Dreams park project, the airport, Cass-Logan Industrial Park, planning department, emergency response and Emergency Management Agency responsibilities.

Economic development is Job One for both of us, and we have to use TIF, CEDIT and LOIT monies wisely to expand our tax base to be comparable with other cities and counties our size. Since Logansport represents roughly half the people in the county, we have to realize what's good for Logansport is good for Cass County and pool our resources.

My previous administration supported Memorial Hospital — a county hospital — for the first time. More discussions regarding healthcare jobs are necessary. We can do more to focus state and federal attention on our community. Party shouldn't matter, but partnership should. Roughly half of Logansport Utilities customers are outside the city limits, and the utilities can play a huge role in extending water and sewer lines to areas where septic systems have failed and well water is unsafe. Both sides can gain from expansion of the county's industrial park.

Terry Doran

I truly believe that we hurt ourselves in so many ways by not working together. I know our current and past administrations try to tout their relationships with county officials as they should, but one statistic clearly points out our problem. There are 92 counties in the state of Indiana and there are 93 economic entities in those counties. Any guess as to which county has separate economic advisors? Cass and only Cass. Can we possibly be serving our county or city constituents in the best possible ways?

I would hope to start by sitting down with county officials, tossing egos out and just help each other in every way that we can. Our jobs are to make the best decisions for all of our friends and neighbors. I would hope we could agree on that.

Larry Hood

I believe that would start with me trying to work with the county and not the county working for me. I think we could work good together as long as neither one of us forgets who we are actually working for and that is the citizens of Logansport and Cass County.

Two areas I would like to work on first would be one economic development person instead of two. I would personally like to work with the person that they are using currently. Second would be in regards to working with the fire departments that surround the City of Logansport. It is totally ridiculous that one side of a street would possibly be Logansport's territory and the other side is a fire department in another town or jurisdiction.

Jacob LeDonne

If elected, I would hope to meet regularly with county officials. Having a healthy relationship between county/city government is paramount to the success and prosperity to our community.

James McKeever

I plan to establish a format between the mayor's office and the county commissioners, which would provide wide open transparency between our two governmental bodies. For far too long, decisions have been made separately without closely involving our people that are forced to pay for things they do not want or back.

My plan would be to invite county officials to public meetings so that our people are well aware of upcoming topics that represent an impact on their lives. Logansport residents deserve to be thoughtfully served by all elected officials within our city and county. I want to do whatever I can to end these separate decisions that are harmful to many. The idea of pleasing a "select few" goes completely against my beliefs. We can do much better, period.

Mayor Chris Martin

Our administration has had a very strong and positive working relationship with the county. We're working on multiple projects together and we're finally aligned with a positive and proactive city and county relationship that's been long overdue.