Mayoral candidates answer burning questions before election day
Nov. 6—Days away from the municipal election and with early voting already underway, candidates are making their final pushes to connect with voters.
With the election rapidly approaching, the Pharos-Tribune sat down with the three candidates for mayor of Logansport and asked them what they believe is the biggest issue facing Logansport, how they would solve these issues, and why voters should vote for them.
This year's mayor race features the same major-party candidates from the previous municipal election in 2019 — Republican Chris Martin and Democrat Dave Kitchell. Kitchell served as mayor from 2016-2019, and Martin then won and began his term in 2020. Independent candidate Lonnie Keefer also is running in 2023.
Martin will once again pick Jacob Pomasl as his deputy mayor. Keefer has selected former Logansport Utilities employee James McKeever as his deputy mayor. Kitchell has yet to reveal his choice.
General election voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Logansport School Administration Building, 2829 George St., and the Riverside Park McHale Complex, 1208 Riverside Dr.
Chris Martin
What is the biggest issue facing Logansport?
"I would say the biggest issue facing Logansport right now would be housing. We've got 52 new single family homes going in on the east side. We're working on some of the townhome duplexes on the south side. We're also working on a larger complex, apartment complex, to go in on the northwest side of Logansport as well. We have the plans that we can put forward. Government just takes time. Although housing is one of our biggest struggles right now in the city, we are working on the solutions to those problems."
How would you solve this issue?
"Doing exactly what we're doing right now, which is putting plans in place, finding the right developer. The biggest problem that we've had is you can find a developer and someone that has interest in building those homes or apartment complexes or whatever it may be in the community, but the problem is that there's such a large gap of need because of the increase of costs to be able to build these buildings and these homes that you're starting to see a $3.5 million gap that the developer wants the city to fill. And we just don't think that that's smart right now to put $3.5 million of local taxpayers' money toward a housing complex that the developer itself is going to be making money off of. So right now, working with the developers that we are working with, there is not that gap. They're actually coming in to the city of Logansport, building these different styles of homes, town homes and apartment complexes, and they're doing it by us just simply giving them the land."
Why should voters vote for you?
"Our administration has been very clear on our goals and what we want to see accomplished for the city of Logansport. And reelecting the Martin administration will continue that progress that we've seen over the last four years with the 60-plus new businesses that we've brought into the city, as well as infrastructure improvements that have not been seen like this for quite some time."
Dave Kitchell
What is the biggest issue facing Logansport?
"Right now, the biggest issue is economic development, and it usually is but, you know, we've made it through a lot of hurdles. We now need to pivot to more economic development opportunities that are there for us in the Midwest for on-time delivery of auto parts suppliers, the electric battery manufacturers that are coming online now. All that has to happen, and a big part of that is going to be housing. We really need to get the housing inventory up to the degree that it can absorb (Kokomo and Lafayette's growth), and also replace the aging housing stock that we already have. We've got to get newer housing here that adds value to our tax base and at the same time, we have to do more for the historic housing that's here and not sacrifice that in the mix. We have to provide incentives for owners of historic properties. (Historic housing) will hold its value and add more value to the tax base than a new home built. You talk about subsidized housing and that sort of thing, there's a need for all levels of housing in Logansport, but we have to take care of the properties that need it the most. And, we have to take care of our neighborhoods and get people to invest in the older neighborhoods in particular."
How would you solve this issue?
"(Economic development) is multiple issues. We need to finish sites in Industrial Park, it hasn't seen development in four years. We need spec buildings, people can come there and shop it out. We need to look at other places in the city, especially on the west side. The Trelleborg site has to be redeveloped. There's a developer that's from out of town... but the city has not moved forward on the project. That will create jobs.... Tax abatement is something that every community does now, and we've got to do the things that not every community does because the playing field has been so leveled for all the incentives that we've got to work on that. I think the property on North 3rd Street there by the Pepsi plant, the former Exide battery plant, any property that's being remediated like that for environmental problems, there are tax incentives now to go in there... that's the kind of property that will entice a certain investor because there are tax incentives attached to it. The big thing is to help entrepreneurs. We got to support small businesses because that's where most growth happens. We're on the right track, but housing is a big part. We need to identify developers — some of whom will be from here, some not. We'll have to work with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. And we're going to have to get with some private developers that want to develop subdivisions. When you're talking hundreds (of homes), you're going to have to look at other areas of the city and we have to do a smart infill program. We have to take a look at areas where we use to have elementary schools that we just have empty lots right now. The older homes, the lots that are vacant in the city, condemned properties, need to come down. I'm not against subsidized housing or prefab housing in some areas. It would help to put housing near the west side too where we have the solar park and the solar fields. Our greatest challenge is to meet that and to bring every player to the table that we can to invest in Logansport."
Why should voters vote for you?
"Well, from what people tell me — and I listen when I go door to door — I think that they trust me for one thing and the track record that we had compared to the track record that the mayor has. And it's one thing to run for office, but it's another thing entirely to serve in office. And the response that we get is, 'We want you to win, we've got to win.' I've got a number of Republicans that have come to my side and supported me. There are a number of Republicans out there that have made their money in this city and their careers, and they've employed a lot of people, but they don't like the direction and the commitment, or lack of it, that the mayor has shown. We have to take care of the city and we're not taking care of the things that we need to take care of on a regular basis. We just can't sit on the sidelines and say, 'Oh, we're going to come in eight hours a week and work on this.' Well, it's not a part-time job. It's a full-time passion, and that's a statement I'll stand by. You've got to have a passion for city government and for the community, and not just say, 'oh, I love Logansport.' Well then, show me, show me that you love Logansport."
Lonnie Keefer
What is the biggest issue facing Logansport?
"The biggest issue facing Logansport is industry. We need more industries in here, and I mean higher paying jobs. I have nothing against fast food places, but they don't buy you a house. They don't put your kids through college. They don't give a reason for our younger generation to stay here in Logansport. Industry is what's going to keep Logansport thriving. Our history is going to keep Logansport staying here. Our housing is what we are going to need to have. Industry goes first, housing goes second and then the heart of Logansport is third. We need to be able to come together as a group and understand what we need in this town."
How would you solve this issue?
"My running mate has a son-in-law who teaches industrial (technology), he teaches it to grad students. So, he is far up in there. We are going to be getting a hold of Purdue through him. Purdue is going to come over and show us where we can fix things, what we can do. We need to use the brain trust over there to bring in knowledge for Logansport. All other cities around us are doing that; they're listening to people that are smarter than us and saying, 'Hey, we need to fix this area. Hey, we need to fix this area.' If we fix those areas — to quote an old movie — 'Fix it, they will come.' We need to be able to listen to our citizens and say, 'Hey, we need this, we need that.'"
Why should voters vote for you?
"Because I will listen to them and I know the previous administration has said that in the past, but they don't listen to the citizens or they would be doing what citizens want. I will be open and open front with everything I do. I am willing to put a camera in my office so that they can clock in at anytime and see me there and see me working for the citizens. The only time I am planning on not being in the office — heaven forbid anything happen to my family or anything like that — is when I am (with) each department head, seeing how they're working things, how they're doing things. I'm going to be a mayor that's not micromanaging, but managing. I will surround myself with the people that has the knowledge of the town. For instance, James McKeever has so much knowledge when it comes to Logansport Utilities and he will know what needs to be fixed and what doesn't need to be fixed. He'll report to me and say, 'Hey Lonnie, this is what we need to do.' And after we talk it amongst our little council that we'll have to get things done, and after we reach out to the people in Logansport and say, 'Hey, what do you think?"
