Chris Francis

NORTH WEBSTER — Chris Francis, North Webster, has filed his candidacy for the bid of the Tippecanoe Township Trustee. He is currently president of the Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board.

A graduate of Wawasee High School and Indiana University with a degree in criminal justice, Francis has served in law enforcement since 2004. He has served on the North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Fire Department for 19 years, since the age of 16, where he is currently deputy chief. He has also been an emergency medical technician since the age of 18.

Francis has been appointed to the township board two separate times since 2012. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of two of his family members, including his great-great grandfather Milo Strombeck, who have served as township trustees.

“I want to secure financial stability to ensure we keep our own ambulance service,” noted Francis, who additionally noted as a firefighter and officer, he “understands the management and operations of our emergency services.”

The lifelong resident of North Webster, wants to “work with the township board to continue the growth of our emergency services, in order to meet the needs of our community. I would like to research additional staffing options to ensure personnel coverage, due to the volunteer shortage,” he stated. “Using funds already in place, I would like to work with the township board to hire our own cemetery maintenance personnel,” he added. Additionally he would like to seek upgrades to the existing township property.

“I am somebody that the public can entrust in this position. I already have an arrangement for training with a local trustee, which I will begin immediately after the primary election. I have always believed in fiscal conservation and managing the taxpayer’s money for the purpose in which it was intended. I believe that tax money should be utilized in a manner that provides our residents with the best resources possible.

“My family has resided in this area for nearly two centuries, which gives me great pride in continuing the tradition.”