Get to know your candidates: Richmond Common Council at-large race
RICHMOND, Ind. — As part of our coverage of the general election coming up on Nov. 5, the Pal Item sent a questionnaire to each person running in a contested race in Wayne County.
Here are the responses we received from the candidates seeking the three at-large seats on Richmond Common Council. Five of the six people who will be listed on the ballot replied: Incumbent Ron Oler and fellow Republicans Jane Bumbalough and Larry Parker as well as Democrats Sue Roberson and Yvonne Washington.
Also running is Democrat Nick Dunlap.
The other two at-large incumbents — Republicans Misty Hollis and Jamie Lopeman — aren't seeking re-election to the city council.
JANE BUMBALOUGH
• Age: 52
•Family: Married with 10 children and 10 grandchildren
•Education: Richmond High School general education diploma; Ivy Tech Community College certified nursing assistant, home health aide, dementia care
•Occupation: Home and Health Care Services, serving Wayne County 34-plus years helping older adults live independent lives for as long as possible
•Community involvement: Mentor and group facilitator for Cross Road Christian Recovery Center For Women, mentor for Birthright Crisis Pregnancy Center, Sunday school teacher, former monthly serving coordinator for Rock Solid Ministries' soup kitchen, former governing board Member for Wayne County Health Department, former volunteer at Community Food Pantry, graduate of the Richmond Citizens Police Academy, volunteer in the community for various organizations and non-profit agencies as needed.
• Previous elected offices held: None
•Why did you decide to run for office this year? I have a passion for the future of the city. This is a perfect time for me to serve the citizens on council and make a difference
•What do you see as the major issues facing the city of Richmond? Communication within the community when implementing change, addiction crisis, the need for a ready workforce, poverty/homelessness.
•How can Richmond Common Council be a part of addressing those issues? Richmond Common Council can address these issues by being informed and involved in the schools, organizations, businesses and non-profit agencies serving in these areas.
•Should you be elected, what are your three top priorities? If I were to be elected, my three top priorities are: Ready workforce for future economic development, community safety and the addiction crisis.
• When it comes to putting together the city’s budgets over the next four years, what should be the funding priorities for those budgets? Law enforcement and first responders, Infrastructure, transportation, parks and recreation.
• Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I believe I have life experience to serve our community in a variety of ways to all age groups and their social and economic backgrounds. I am open to change for the common good for all community members through priority, accountability and sustainability.
RON OLER
•Age: 55
• Family: Married with 21 nieces and nephews, three of which have lived with us
•Education: Doctorate's degree in leadership from Indiana State University, master's degree in management and bachelor's degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, associate's degree in electronics from Ivy Tech
•Occupation: Professor/site director for Ivy Tech Community College
•Community involvement: Served on several non-profit boards, many community service projects connected to these boards/groups over the past 30 years
• Previous elected offices held: Two terms on Richmond Common Council at-large, seeking a third term
•Why did you decide to run for office this year? Mentors and advisers encouraged me to continue serving our community in this role.
•What do you see as the major issues facing the city of Richmond? Vacant downtown storefronts, unfilled job openings at almost every manufacturer.
•How can Richmond Common Council be a part of addressing those issues? Establish a loan program for downtown facades instead of the bureaucratic red tape involved in Stellar funds. Strengthen public/private partnerships to rebuild downtown and to prepare more citizens for the workforce.
•Should you be elected, what are your three top priorities? Develop and implement a workable plan for downtown, increase the cash reserves in the city's budget to be ready for the rainy day that will come, investing in the next generation.
•When it comes to putting together the city’s budgets over the next four years, what should be the funding priorities for those budgets? Essential services including police, fire, streets, sewers, trash and infrastructure.
•Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I have the experience, education and established relationships with businesses and organizations in our community to make our Richmond, Indiana a better place to live and to work.
LARRY PARKER
•Age: 79
•Family: Married with two adult children and two grandchildren
•Education: Graduated from Richmond High School, received a bachelor's degree from Murray State University
• Occupation: Retired
• Community involvement: Member of Central United Methodist Church, serves as an usher; board member of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County
• Why did you decide to run for office this year? I feel there is a need for better use of our taxpayers' money.
•What do you see as the major issues facing the city of Richmond? Revitalization of downtown, including the Elder- Beerman building; marketing the old Reid property.
•How can Richmond Common Council be a part of addressing those issues? By offering low-cost loans and working with the EDC to market those properties back on the tax roles.
•Should you be elected, what are your three top priorities? Balance the budget, work with EDC to bring additional jobs to Richmond, no additional expensive bike paths and revitalize downtown.
•When it comes to putting together the city’s budgets over the next four years, what should be the funding priorities for those budgets? Funding of essential services (needs vs. wants) such as police and fire departments; having a balanced budget, which includes a reserve or replacement fund.
SUE ROBERSON
•Age: 64
•Family: Two children and 2 grandchildren
•Education: Bachelor's degree in general studies from Indiana University
•Occupation: Retired from a career in human resources
•Community involvement: Volunteer for the Wayne County Food Council
•Precious elected offices held: None
• Why did you decide to run for office this year? I believed there were citizens and portions of Richmond that have been traditionally neglected and I wanted to give them a voice. I felt council was attempting to make executive branch decisions. Additionally, I felt my executive branch experience would give me a good perspective on ordinances and challenge resolutions.
•What do you see as the major issues facing the city of Richmond? The major issues I see facing Richmond are 42 percent of the population does not make a living wage, hungry and homeless children, however, much of this can be tied to addictions and substance abuse.
•Should you be elected, what are your three top priorities? Stay in contact with the citizens of Richmond, ask the priorities of the executive branch, work with the community to address the substance addiction and abuse challenges.
•Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I have 24 years of executive level management experience in government at the local and state level. I have written policy, prepared legislation and ordinances as well as lobbying for both. Additionally, I believe if elected my job is to represent all the citizens of Richmond.
YVONNE WASHINGTON
•Age: 60
•Family: Divorced with two adult children and three grandchildren
•Education: Bachelor's degree with humanities and education concentrations from Indiana University East, associate's degree in of general studies with behavioral sciences and communications concentrations from Indiana University East
•Occupation: Administrative assistant to the vice president of enrollment management at Earlham College
• Community involvement: Earlham College Employee Council, Strategic Management Core Process Committee at Indiana University East, Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee at Indiana University East, various search and screen committees, CHOSEN Annual Ministers and Church Leaders Planning Committee and conference speaker, Chair Staff Council at Indiana University East, newsletter coordinator for Fairview Neighborhood Association, Affirmative Action/Multicultural Affairs Committee, Indiana Red Ribbon Drug Prevention Campaign, Campus Climate Committee at Indiana University East, President’s Minority Enhancement Council for Indiana University, African-American History Month Coordinator, Community Builders study Circles on Race Relations, Leadership Wayne County, Richmond-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Community Relations Committee
•Previous elected offices held: None
•Why did you decide to run for office this year? My career started in human services and helping people resolve their personal challenges led me into addressing problems within support systems. Running for a legislative office is a natural progression into a higher level of decision-making for me.
•What do you see as the major issues facing the city of Richmond? The opioid crisis, housing disparities and increasing wages without creating burdens for business owners.
•How can Richmond Common Council be a part of addressing those issues? By supporting legislation that does not hinder the efforts of organizations that are committed to assisting people in substance abuse recovery programs, taking steps toward the recreation of the Human Rights Commission, working with regional partners to help foster the development of tech businesses and industries that have the potential to thrive in our area.
•Should you be elected, what are your three top priorities? Combining the research that I have done with the practical knowledge and wisdom of other council members to become the best representative that I can possibly be, demystifying the codes as often as possible in order to help people develop an understanding of what each one means and how it applies to their lives and being transparent and keeping taxpayers informed.
•When it comes to putting together the city’s budget over the next four years, what should be the funding priorities for those budgets? Addressing any remaining deficiencies in human resources.
•Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I have been in the workforce for over 40 years, and my skills and experience have been cultivated in areas that support the development and promotion of a healthy city as defined by the World Health Organization: “A healthy city is one that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources, which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential.”