Dear Editor:

I am Sue Ann Mitchell, candidate for Kosciusko County Northern District Commissioner. I have served the community in many ways, having been an EMT with North Webster/Tippecanoe Township EMS for 15 years, chaired the North Webster Lions Club Mermaid Festival Queen’s and Cutie Pageant, currently serve on the North Webster Community Center Board and am an honorary life member of North Webster Auxiliary Unit No. 253.

I served as the Tippecanoe Township Assessor, County Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer and am finishing my second term on the County Council. I have never left a position before the term I committed to under oath, was fulfilled. In all those years, I have never paid my property taxes late.

As auditor, I prepared agendas and documents for the commissioners and council. I know and understand the duties of a Commissioner and I will be comfortable performing those duties on day one. I research decisions to be sure I understand what is being proposed. I am willing to speak up in a civil manner if I have questions or I do not agree.

I have been active in each of the state associations for the offices I have held. I have taken an active role in the legislative process and have testified on bills that I thought would improve county government with several of those bills being passed. I have served on the Association of Indiana Counties Executive Board representing all county elected officials for the last five years and am scheduled to be the president of the AIC this fall. While participating in all those activities, I have continued to fulfill the duties here at home and feel I have made positive contributions to each position I have held.

I have a full understanding of Residential Tax Increment Financing and the impact it has on other taxing units when growth in assessed value (which translates to tax revenues) are diverted to a developer to pay for bonds to provide infrastructure in a subdivision. I know that only one subdivision in the unincorporated areas of Kosciusko County has requested a residential TIF be approved by the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission since residential TIFs were approved by the state legislature effective July 1,2019. All other land developers have funded the infrastructure costs themselves.

I have no conflicts of interest! I do not own a business, nor am I trying to develop a subdivision. I understand what transparency in government is and should be because I live it. To me, it is integrity, honesty and doing the right thing. I am comfortable that I have fulfilled those requirements in all my years of service!

I pride myself in having “done the right thing” to benefit taxpayers in Kosciusko County for many years and I hope I have earned your respect, confidence, trust, and support for the Northern District Commissioner position on May 7. Thank you for your consideration!

Respectfully submitted,
Sue Ann Mitchell
Candidate for Northern District Commissioner
Please call if you have questions! (574) 594-5242