How to make an informed decision
The Allen County primary election is May 8, 2012. The primaries are a chance for Democrats to get together and vote for Democrats and for Republicans to get together to vote for Republicans. In each primary, party members (those who are active within the party) and party affiliates (those who identify with the party but aren’t active—most registered voters) come together and choose someone whom is in good standing according to the rules of their party, they believe best advocate for the local party platform, and, when compared against the other primary contenders within their own party, has the best chances of getting elected in November’s general election.
Who’s in good standing? Gina Burgess and all Democratic candidates seeking the 2012 Allen County Council At-Large position are in good standing, according to Rule 8 of the Indiana Democratic Party Rules. (See http://indems.3cdn.net/923e40d47e778c6f35_1ym6i6tin.pdf)
Who’s the best advocate for the local party platform? The Allen County Democratic Party does not have a formal party platform, that is a written, well-documented list of things it seeks to accomplish. (See http://www.allencountydemocrats.org/Home.aspx)
In the absence of a formal, written or otherwise well documented party platform, some local voters may choose to judge candidates on positions taken on issues important to the individual voter. Others may choose a candidate based on leadership qualities and the kind of experience the candidate would bring to the office they are seeking. Therefore, the first step a voter must undertake in picking a candidate is to decide which issues that voter cares most about and the qualities each voter wants in a candidate for office.
Some issues to consider? When you consider issues, think about community problems you want people in government to address or solve. Examples of issues relevant at the county level might include: the need to increase transparency, accessibility and accountability in local government; the desire to increase funding for Allen County schools; the desire to decrease county expenditures in the hopes of decreasing county taxes; how to reduce creative “budgeting” and how to increase savings through innovative logistics, such as combining the Department of Homeland Security with the Department of Safety and Environmental Affairs; the need to eliminate County Council’s ability to give itself a pay raise; and how to make Allen County judicial services, which contains one of the biggest pieces of the Allen County budgeting pie, more cost-effective especially when preparing for the near simultaneous opening of the first local law school and the expense of prosecution and defense in the upcoming high profile capital murder trial of Michael Plumadore.
Some leadership qualities to consider? When you consider leadership qualities, think about the characteristics you want in an effective leader. Do you look for intelligence, honestly, an ability and willingness to communicate? Perhaps you look for passion, principles, conviction and the drive to see a matter through, even if or especially if the challenge is difficult to overcome. What does leadership mean to you?
Which candidates should you choose? The Allen County Council At-Large seats three elected officials. For the purposes of the primary, each party selects up to three candidates to go toe-to-toe in the November general election. Before choosing your candidates, please take a moment to write down what issues and leadership qualities are important to you and essential to the budgeting, accounting and financial aspect of the Allen County Council At-Large job.
VOTE GINA BURGESS…….and two other candidates. Gina has experience in the legal field as both a seasoned paralegal and community advocate. This experience is important because the law enforcement and judicial services account for the biggest part of the 2012 Allen County General Operating budget, or 70.56% of the budget. (See http://www.allencounty.us/images/budget/2012/2012%20budget.pdf) She has the necessary financial experience that comes from managing a successful law office as well as developing a private sector business that created jobs for inner-city youth. (See http://www.modeltbicycles.com/aboutmodelt.html)
She is outspoken against wasteful municipal expenditures and often questions seemingly overlooked cost-savings devices that could have been used in municipal purchases, things like large order discounts, submitting requests for proposals (RFP) to local vendors, networking with other municipalities who are making the same or similar purchase to create a larger order to gain discounts for all, etc. She is also an advocate for looking at more than just the bottom line costs of a product or service, but its related costs for use, maintenance, etc.
Gina is a practical common-sense candidate who looks for innovative ways to cut costs in an effort to attain and remain fiscally responsible.
Paid for and authorized by VOTE GINA BURGESS, James McCoy, Treasurer.
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