At my high school paper, I was the go-to guy for headlines like that. Says a lot about our high school paper, I think. (We got in a lot of trouble for the “Red Devils Cream Trojans; Scalp Indians” about victories against New Castle and Anderson). But, I digress.
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has an article by Niki Kelly entitled Bill to abolish commissioners wins early nod. (See, my title is better.) By a 6 to 4 vote, the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee approved Senate Bill 312. The bill would eliminate the three person Board of County Commissioners that currently serves as the county executive in favor of a one person executive. The county council would be expanded and would serve as the legislative body instead of solely as the fiscal body for the county.
K.D. Benson, a commissioner in Tippecanoe County, testified in support of the bill. She is in her eighth year but chose not to run again.
“I don’t have a horse in this race,†she said, noting the change is the first step in modernizing county government.
Several other county commissioners from around the state spoke against the legislation.
Bill Hahn, of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, said his organization is not taking a position on whether a three-member commissioners’ board is better than a single executive.
But they do believe individual counties should have the right to choose.
“We oppose the bill not to save our position or because we fear change,†Hahn said. “But because one size doesn’t fit all.â€
“Red Devils Cream Trojans”.
Excellent.
As time goes on, I like the idea of each county having a county executive balanced by a county council. Seems like a better idea than two committees …
Ranks up there with the wedding announcement one of my church members showed me: “Manly Man Marries Fertile Girl” (Of course Manly and Fertile being the towns they were from).