Primary candidates share thoughts

Thursday, April 5, 2018
Incumbent Rick Woodall (left) listens as challenger Kim Hyten makes a point Tuesday night at the Putnam County Candidates Forum. The two men are vying for the Republican nomination for District 2 County Commissioner.
Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Following a clash between sheriff hopefuls Tuesday night (see story in Wednesday edition), the remainder of the Putnam County Candidate Forum, co-sponsored by the Greencastle League of Women Voters, WGRE Radio and the Banner Graphic, featured some thoughtful points but little disagreement from candidates for county office.

Instead, candidates for Putnam County Commissioner District 2, County Council District 3 and Putnam County Recorder shared their visions for the next four years with the near-capacity crowd of 90 or so at the DePauw University Watson Forum.

The only “debate” per se was for the Republican nod for District 2 commissioner, featuring incumbent Rick Woodall and Kim Hyten.

An outsider four years ago, Woodall talked about efforts by the commissioners over that time to “bring our county into the 21st century” with efforts like updating technology at the courthouse, upgrading the timekeeping system and his hopes of upgrading the county website.

“The courthouse is a rat’s nest of wiring,” Woodall said. “Our county website hasn’t been updated in months, years, weeks, days...”

Hyten, a former 20-year employee of the county who most recently served as county planner, said that department is one of his biggest concerns.

“Something I’d like to see different is in the last few years, the planning department has turned around 180 degrees,” Hyten said. “I know that position is not being upheld.”

Woodall agreed with this point, but added that he feels the department has turned around under the direction of current Planner Don Hatfield.

One question that drew an interesting response from the commissioner candidates was when they were asked what they think the most important and least important functions the county serves.

A bit taken aback at first, Woodall decided that the sheriff’s department and health department are the most vital.

“It’s the sheriff’s job to protect us,” he said. “It’s the health department that keeps us healthy.”

As for least important, Woodall phrased his response diplomatically.

“I don’t think we utilize our surveyor enough,” he said, not necessarily saying the position itself is unimportant.

As an example, Woodall pointed out that the Putnam County Highway Department purchased a pair of ditching machines last year, but without proper surveying beforehand, ditching only does so much good.

Having just watched Woodall tip-toe through a minefield, Hyten opened his response by thanking his opponent.

“I’m just glad you went first,” Hyten said to a round of laughter.

He largely agreed with Woodall, putting the sheriff’s department and health department at the top of the list, also agreeing that the surveyor’s office could be used differently.

“It’s been an office that’s not been utilized to its full potential,” Hyten said, pointing out that longtime Surveyor David Penturf works part-time for the county and part-time running his own business.

Hyten said the county might want to look at how to make the position full-time or even get a surveyor (or firm) for the highway department itself.

Among important departments, Hyten also advocated for planning and zoning.

“Your property values are very important, people,” Hyten said.

Both men closed their arguments by pointing out their backgrounds and desire to serve.

“I enjoy the job, even when people yell at me and cuss at me and everything else,” Woodall said, adding that he hasn’t fixed every problem but has tried.

Hyten again talked about his two decades of experience and money that he helped bring into the county through grants.

“I believe with my 20 years experience, the knowledge I bring would be a benefit,” Hyten said.

Also vying for the commissioner position and effectively already his party’s nominee is Democrat Steve Cash.

The longtime South Putnam School Board member said he would draw heavily upon that experience.

“If you’re looking for experience, I spent 21-1/2 years on the South Putnam School Board, making major, multi-million dollar purchases,” Cash said.

Probably the most energetic speaker of the night was Matt Cummings, Democrat candidate for Putnam County Council District 3.

Cummings expressed his desire to address the funding losses local schools face in the wake of the state’s voucher program, making local government more transparent through the use of technology, fixing roads and infrastructure and helping local leaders through his experience in digital marketing.

He also drew laughs when he pointed out that he’s “a Democrat who agrees with the president on something,” saying that Donald Trump is right about the need to bring high-speed internet to rural areas.

Notable in their absences from the forum were Cummings’ potential opponents in November, Republicans Jay Fogle, Kyle Nobles and Danny Wallace, all of whom chose to forego the event.

The final presentation of the night came from incumbent Recorder Tracy Bridges, who is opposed by Rhonda Chaney in the GOP primary, but was the only candidate onstage Tuesday.

Bridges’ mission is simple, saying her department plans to continue to provide same-day service and do it in a friendly manner.

The primary election is set for Tuesday, May 8.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary is Monday, April 9.