Running for Office in 2024

The Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County are the chief executive and the legislative body of the County government. County Commissioners are a three-member board elected to four-year terms. The Commissioners represent three separate districts (in which they reside) but are elected by the voters of the entire County.

The Vanderburgh County Commissioners have a wide range of executive and administrative authority. Among the duties and responsibilities are the following:

• Develop and adopt policies, approve contracts, resolutions, and ordinances governing the unincorporated areas of Vanderburgh County and the functions of County government

• Maintain all county-owned property

• Authorize the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges including those bridges within the town boundaries

• Lead the development of economic development projects and programs to attract business and retain jobs in Vanderburgh County

• Oversee several departments which report directly to the County Commissioners including the following: Burdette Park, County Engineer, Health Department, County Highway Department, Old National Events Plaza, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, Soil & Water Conservation District, Superintendent of County Buildings, Veterans Services, and Department of Weights and Measures

• Serve with the County Surveyor as members of the County Drainage Board

• Serve on the Vanderburgh County Solid Waste District Board

• Make appointments to boards, commissions, and other agencies, as provided by law

The Vanderburgh County Council is the fiscal body of County government and serves as a check on the Board of County Commissioners. The council has the ultimate decision-making power regarding fiscal affairs. The council has authority to view or review fiscal matters, determine proper policy, and set priorities for the allocation and expenditure of county funds.

County Council is comprised of seven members. The County is divided into four Council districts from which one Council member is elected from each district and three Council members are elected from the County at-large.

Some of the County Council functions include:

• Fiscal control over all county offices, boards, departments and commissions. All payments from the general or any special fund to be used by the Board of County Commissioners for any purpose other than the mere allocation of funds of the state or federal government must be appropriated by the County Council before expenditure can be made.

• Charged with the responsibility of appropriating, transferring and repealing funds for use by the County and all of its offices, boards, departments and commissions.

• Adopts the annual budget for all County offices, boards, departments and commissions.

• Responsible for approving all job descriptions, salaries and setting the number of employees for all offices, boards, departments and commissions that are funded by the County.

• Exclusive power of fixing the rate of taxation and imposing the tax levy.

• Considers and votes on all tax phase-in applications for the county.

• Makes appointments to boards, commissions and other agencies as provided by either ordinance and/or law.

The Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court is established by the Indiana State Constitution to serve as the record keeper for the Constitutionally created Court. The Clerk is elected by the residents of Vanderburgh County and is limited to serving two consecutive terms. The Clerk of the Circuit Court also serves as the Secretary to the County Election Board which is responsible for conducting all elections in the county including the certification of results.

The Clerk serves as trustee of child support collections ordered by the Court and paid through the Clerk's Office, and also acts as the chief financial officer of the Courts by collecting, disbursing, and reconciling monies related to court. The Clerk collects filing fees, court costs, and judgment monies in civil cases and infraction cases, fees and fines for county jurisdictions, deferral and pretrial diversion fees, and bail bond monies ordered by the Courts.

• The County Recorder is an elected full-time position

• Fixed term of four (4) years, for eight (8) out of twelve (12) years

• Must be a US Citizen 18 years of age or older at the time of assuming office

• Must be a current resident of Vanderburgh County for at least one year and shall keep an office therein where duties are performed

• Serves as a member of the County Commission on Public Records

• Collects and records documents and legal instruments: affidavits, assignments, assumed business name, bonds, court documents, covenants, deeds, easements, environmental disclosures, tax liens, foreign marriage certificates, military discharges, mortgages, plats, power of attorney, surveys, trusts, etc…

• Preserves and maintains county records

• Responsible to make official copies of documents available to the public

• Certifies true and correct copies of documents and records held at the office

• Files Uniform Commercial Code statements pertaining to fixed and real property

• Leads effort to digitize and archive content

• Supervises about 4-5 full-time and part-time staff

Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen 18 years of age or older at the time of assuming office

• Must be and remain a current resident of Vanderburgh County

• Must complete mandatory training courses for coroners and maintain continuing education requirements

Responsibilities

• Determines the cause, manner, and time of death in cases involving violence, casualty, unexplained or suspicious circumstances or when a person has been found deceased

• Alerts and obtains investigative assistance working closely with local law enforcement

• Preserves and does not contaminate evidence at crime scenes for police, FBI, or crime lab technicians

• While the vast majority of cases are natural deaths, the coroner also investigates homicides, suicides, crashes, natural causes, inmate deaths, deaths caused by diseases that may be public health threats, deaths of people whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea, transported out of sates or otherwise unavailable for pathological study, and deaths of transplant surgery donors

• Files Death Certificates with the County Health Department for deaths they investigated within the county

• Employs qualified pathologists to conduct autopsies when necessary

• May file additional reports of the cause of death with the Clerk’s office

The County Surveyor is an elected full-time position

Four year term | Due to the technical nature of the position there are no term limits

Various Indiana Codes and Indiana Administrative Codes govern how a County Surveyor performs these obligations. The County Surveyor is also guided by Federal requirements (such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act) which are administered by agencies such as the US EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen 18 years of age or older at the time of assuming office

• Must be and remain a current resident of Vanderburgh County

Responsibilities

• Supervises construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of regulated drains and floodplains

• Serves on the technical committee for the Area Plan Commission

• Serves as technical authority (subject matter expert) and non-voting member of the county Drainage Board

• Perpetuates section corner stone records

• Develops and recommends strategies and plans to combat climate change and other risks and hazards

• Prepares, maintains, and keeps a legal survey book showing maps of sections, grants, subdivisions, or groups

• Certifies permit locations for Alcoholic Beverage Commission

• Maintains accurate GIS (Geographic Information System) data including parcel, aerial photography, contours, flood zones, soil, wetlands, etc…

• Maintains FEMA flood zone maps

• Oversees and issues pond and building permits

• Reviews complaints regarding private and natural drains

• Supervises about 8-10 full-time and part-time staff

• Provides programs for local youth troop organizations and school programs

• Oversees the Phase II Storm Water Quality program for the County

• Maintains a record of all Benchmarks in the County

Term and Limits

Four-year term.

Term limits as specified by Indiana state law.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, 21 years of age or older at the time of assuming office.

• Must be and remain a resident of the district they are elected to represent in Indiana.

• Must meet all other eligibility requirements as outlined in Indiana law.

Responsibilities

Propose, draft, and vote on state legislation.

Serve on various legislative committees, contributing to policy development and oversight.

Engage with constituents to understand their needs and represent their interests in the state legislature.

Work collaboratively with other state legislators, the Governor's office, and state agencies.

Monitor the implementation and impact of laws and policies at the state level.

Address and resolve issues raised by constituents related to state governance.

Stay informed about local, state, and national issues affecting the district.

Attend and participate in legislative sessions and other mandatory meetings.

Work towards the overall betterment and development of the state of Indiana.

Uphold ethical standards and transparency in all legislative duties.

Additional Duties

Participate in community events and public forums.

Liaise with local governments, non-profits, and private sector entities within the district.

Provide regular updates to constituents about legislative activities and decisions.

Engage in continuous learning about emerging issues, policy developments, and best practices in state governance.