By JOHN KLINE
May 02, 2008 10:34 am
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Mike Yoder, incumbent Republican Elkhart County Commissioner for District 2, enjoys the post and points to experience he gained while serving his first term.
“I originally ran for County Commissioner because friends and business associates encouraged me and because I had a personal interest in politics and our community,” said Yoder, of Middlebury. “I enjoy the commissioner job and desire to continue working in the commissioner role to help the community become a better place to work and live.”
Yoder noted serving as commissioner “has been a learning experience,” and said he continues to learn new things each week.
“Government operates differently than a business. Decisions are made in a collaborative setting that involves seemingly never-ending discussions, listening to many points of view and the ability to form compromises is critical if anything is to be accomplished,” he said.
Yoder also touted his ability to work within the county’s government structure, something he says can only be learned through “on the job” training.
“Before being elected, you can study it, you can watch it and you can attempt to influence it, but until you are actually in one of the decision-maker’s seats there is no way to really fully understand the complexities that can arise in the process,” Yoder said.
In addition to his time spent as county commissioner, Yoder said he has also brought a wide variety of life experiences to the position.
“This county has been my home my entire life, the only exception being my years at college and a couple years working on a Michigan dairy farm,” Yoder said. “I believe I know the community, I know our values and I know the people.”
A dairy farmer by trade, Yoder said his family also has deep roots in the recreational vehicle industry as well.
“Elkhart County is not only one of the larger manufacturing counties in the state — it is an important agriculture county as well. I am comfortable in both worlds,” Yoder said. “My years of leadership experience in Indiana Farm Bureau provided me an opportunity to make friends around the state and in political circles. These contacts have proved to be invaluable as we worked to influence legislation important to Elkhart County in Indianapolis.”
“My previous experiences working on land use issues, not only here in Elkhart County, but also at the state level, has been valuable as our county has struggled with this very important quality of life issue,” he said.
Other issues seen by Yoder as important to the commissioner position include:
• Continuation of technology upgrades for county offices to reduce government expenditures
• Continuing to develop and maintain critical infrastructure for economic growth, including roads, bridges and broadband
• Completing the transition of the Sheriff’s Administration and juvenile facilities out of the old facility
• Finalizing amendments to the county subdivision ordinance, amending agriculture zones and completing a review of all business and manufacturing zone ordinances
• Restructuring local government
• Financing local government in lieu of state mandated changes in local tax structures
“I wish we only had two or three important issues, it would be easier to focus on those for this campaign,” Yoder said. “But the fact is we are in the middle of several important issues, all of which are very important to the future of Elkhart County.”
With property tax legislation recently passed by the state capping property taxes at 1 percent for homeowners, 2 percent for rental properties, and 3 percent for businesses, local governmental officials are being forced to search for other sources of revenue, one of which could be an increase in local option income taxes.
“It is too early to say whether we need to increase the local option income tax to compensate for recent changes made by the state legislature,” Yoder said of the proposal. “Generally I have always been supportive of shifting away from property taxes and relying more on a combination of sales and income taxes. I do not favor complete abolition of property taxes.”
Yoder said he is opposed to the complete removal of property taxes because the revenue it generates is too closely connected to a number of government services.
“Many government services have a connection to property , so I prefer the goal be to create the proper mix of property, sales and income taxes,” Yoder said, adding that he would also like to see the establishment of user fees, when appropriate, to keep certain cost of government service to a minimum.
“Are we now at the ‘right’ mix? Maybe, but the different caps instituted by the legislators may not hold up to Constitutional review,” Yoder said. “Again, we may need to be patient until this issue is resolved before we make too many changes locally.”
Yoder also predicted county corrections issues as taking a front seat in the coming months, noting in particular the need to finish emptying the old jail facility.
“It is my goal that we do that within the budget we have established, which means we do not borrow any more funds,” Yoder said. “I believe that can be accomplished.”
As for the fate of the old county jail, Yoder indicated demolition as the most likely outcome.
“The old facility will be demolished,” Yoder said, adding that the commissioners have looked at a variety of other possibilities for the building, none of which have proved feasible. “What will happen with the empty space? I know we need additional parking in that area for the courthouse, so that may be our first priority.
“After that? I think we need to bring Goshen into that dialogue. I’m interested in the city’s ideas,” he said.
Yoder lives in Middlebury with is wife, Rhonda, a music teacher at Jefferson elementary school. Their oldest daughter, Lindsay, is married and living in Indianapolis. Their second daughter, Tasha, will be a senior at the University of Indianapolis this fall.
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