Published: May 01, 2008 10:07 am         

Challenger hopes to bring insights to commissioner post

Republican Dwaine Swartzentruber, Goshen, who is seeking the Elkhart County Commissioner District 2 nomination, hopes to bring new insights into the position.

He is opposing incumbent Mike Yoder.

“Everyone has different ideas, new approaches to things, and new services they can provide to the community,” Swartzentruber said of his choice to pursue the commissioner position.

Having run unsuccessfully for the commissioner position four years ago, Swartzentruber is no stranger to the election process.

Even so, Swartzentruber said it was only at the urging of friends and family that he made the decision to add his name to the ballot again this year.

“I wasn’t even thinking about running, but there were quite a few people asking me if I would go ahead and put my name on the ballot again, and so I said, yeah, I’d do it,” Swartzentruber said.

As for what qualities he feels are necessary to become an effective commissioner, Swartzentruber noted honesty, approachability and a true concern for the county and its residents as integral if the position is to have any merit.

“They need to be a strong voice, approachable and available, and not run and hide or avoid the public when something goes wrong,” Swartzentruber said. “If someone in the public sees something or hears something that needs to be addressed, they need to take a look at it, and investigate it.”

When asked what changes he would like to see made if elected to the position, Swartzentruber said he would work to reshape the board into something much more open and accessible to the public.

“We need to inform the people of what is on the county’s agenda, give them the full information and let them know what is before the commissioners,” Swartzentruber said. “We need to have a forum where the people can hear what is being discussed, and what is going to be voted on or decided on. We need the public informed without secrets or agendas.

“Elected officials are servants to the public, and we have to do what the public wants, not just what we want,” he said.

Swartzentruber added that providing the residents of Elkhart County with a voice is an integral aspect of any county-related decision-making process.

“We must be informative, approachable and we must also be a voice,” Swartzentruber said. “We need to be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves, because of fear or inability, regardless of what their status is.

“Everyone has a voice, and we must listen, because the more suggestions that public officials get, the wider range of opinions they can draw from when making their final decisions,” he said.

As for other big issues expected to be addressed by the board in the coming months, Swartzentruber listed property taxes, land use and community corrections as among the most pressing.

“I would be in favor to abolish property taxes all together, for the simple reason that we shouldn’t have to pay taxes on something that we already own,” Swartzentruber said. “There are other ways to raise revenue.”

Regarding property and land use, Swartzentruber said he feels too much power is being given to the county to decide how a property owner can use their land.

“A person that owns land should not be dictated to on how they can or cannot use that land,” Swartzentruber said. “They should have the freedom to sell it, or develop it as they see fit. That should be their decision, not the government's.”

When discussing community corrections, Swartzentruber noted in particular his support of the construction of a new juvenile detention center for the county.

“We do need a new juvenile center to help the growing number of kids that are having difficulty,” Swartzentruber said. “But we shouldn’t just use it to house them. We need to use it as a school, a teaching facility as well, to help them become socially and academically responsible in both their public and private lives.

“They need to know that they are worthwhile and that they add value to society, and that we need them,” he said.

If elected, Swartzentruber said he would also push for the county to sponsor an annual outing for the community where area residents could meet and discuss issues with their elected officials.

“I would love to see the county sponsor an annual outing, like for instance take one Saturday or one weekend like they do at Bonneyville Mill, and let the people meet their elected officials and talk to them,” Swartzentruber said. “We could have people come and give their talent, whether it be music, dancing or singing, and perform that voluntarily and just have a good old community get-together.

“We’ve lost too many family values already. We need to zero in on that and get that back together,” he said.

A father of three children and professed antique and animal lover, Swartzentruber lives in Jefferson Township with his wife of 43 years.