Commitment To Serve

Editor, Times-Union:
As the May 5th Primary Election approaches, I respectfully ask the residents of Kosciusko County to consider voting for me, Donald Wiesehan, for County Commissioner.
Public service has been central to my life, and it is what motivates me to seek this office. As a lifelong resident of Kosciusko County, I care deeply about our community and its future. My years of service have given me valuable experience with local government, budgeting, and collaboration. If given the opportunity, I will bring dedication, effort, and integrity to the position every single day. My goal is simple: to serve every resident of Kosciusko County to the best of my ability while strengthening accountability, transparency, and accessibility throughout county government.
My years of service have given me a strong understanding of how our local systems work and how it can be improved. I believe and will work toward clear communication, transparency, and collaboration. I believe county government works best when it is open, responsive, and connected to the people it serves.
One of my top priorities is strengthening relationships among the departments overseen by the County Commissioners. I am very familiar with budgets and the responsibilities elected officials have to remain fiscally disciplined to protect taxpayers. To support this effort, I plan to routinely visit county departments, not just interact with them during scheduled commissioners’ meetings, so I can better understand their needs, challenges, and opportunities.
With fiscal responsibility remaining a priority, I cannot support the currently proposed county parking garage. With uncertainties in future budgets, including the potential impacts of Senate Bill 1 and changes in property tax revenue, I believe now is not the right time to pursue a project that is not a true necessity. While some point to lower tax rates on paper, rising assessed values have offset those savings. A parking garage would place an unnecessary burden on taxpayers, especially city residents who would effectively pay for it twice through both city and county taxes. These concerns deserve careful consideration because elected officials are meant to work for the people, not impose unnecessary financial burdens.
Accessibility is an area where meaningful improvement is needed. Commissioners’ meetings have traditionally been held bi-weekly on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m., a time that makes it difficult for many working residents to attend. If elected, I will make a motion to move at least one meeting per month to the evening to encourage greater public participation. I plan to provide regular updates on county issues, meeting agendas, and decisions through social media to improve transparency and add an additional line of communication.
I also strongly support term limits at all levels of government and will hold myself to a strict two‑term limit. Term limits encourage accountability and stronger performance from public officials.
With your support, I hope to earn the opportunity to work tirelessly for all residents of Kosciusko County and to help build a stronger community.
Donald Wiesehan
Mentone, via email