Talk of the Town - Whitley County

(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Indiana House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, standing above, talks with local residents about various change-related issues facing state government in the months and years ahead. The informal morning discussion was held at The Brownstone on State in South Whitley. Below, at left, State Representative Dan Leonard talks with attendees. Below, Whitley County Republican Party  and county council candidate Jim Banks answers a question. Banks helped to coordinate the visit to Whitley County.

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

Indiana House Minority Leader Brian Bosma of Indianapolis made a stop in South Whitley recently at the invitation of the Whitley County Republican Party -- bringing a message of change.

Bosma spoke about the impact of property tax changes on the future of the state as well as the impact individual communities will face. Bosma asked questions posed by local residents and county government officials.

“Dealing with the immediate and not the long term has put our state in a desperate situation,” Bosma said.

“Hoosiers don’t like change, but change was needed,” he said.

There may be some changes in store for Indiana, however, that he and others are not necessarily in support of – including proposed idea of putting one executive in charge of a county with that individual appointing representatives to serve in various areas. This concept is part of the bipartisan Kernan-Shepherd report, a hot topic on the minds of officials around the state. Some have described this proposed county executive position as a “super mayor.”

“It may be time for that and it may not be in some areas,” Bosma said of the idea.

 “I think its too much control in one person,” said Scott Darley, a county council member in attendance.

“It’s not a fiscally responsible solution,” said county councilman Bill Overdeer, also in attendance. As discussion continued, Overdeer urged Bosma to keep the perspectives of counties in mind when making decisions regarding the reformation of local government.

“Whatever you get done, give local government a voice,” said Overdeer.

Bosma stopped in South Whitley enroute to Huntington to speak in support of State Representative Dan Leonard’s bid for re-election. Leonard and State Representative Matt Bell were in attendance, along with several local officials and citizens.