(La Porte County, IN) - A veteran LaPorte County Councilman is seeking another term in the November 8 election.
Mark Yagelski, 63, of Michigan City, is a supervisor at Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill at Burns Harbor. At that time, it was Bethlehem Steel when he was hired there after graduating from high school.
Yagelski is seeking his sixth term as District 3 councilman. But, he still enjoys the responsibility of helping to manage county government finances.
“It’s a challenge. I still like it. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be doing it,” Yagelski said.
Yagelski said his top priorities include retaining emergency responders lured elsewhere by higher pay.
Pay raises were given several months ago, but more are expected once the money starts coming in from an increase in the local income tax for public safety adopted earlier this year.
Yagelski said he also wants to expand a tax base that hasn’t grown much because of the stagnant population to alleviate having to raise taxes again in the future. In addition, he believes more residents will start moving here next year once the South Shore Railroad commuter line has a second set of tracks to reduce travel times to and from Chicago.
High-rise hotel and living facilities on the north end of Michigan City are expected to increase soon because of the migration from Chicago anticipated by the rail improvements.
Yagelski said offering more things for people to do here will also help attract new residents and visitors.
“You see how New Buffalo changed overnight. I believe in the possibility of Michigan City changing overnight,” Yagelski said.
Deb Vance, 60, is a real estate agent at Weichert Realtors Merrion Group in Michigan City and used to be a secretary for Ivy Tech Community College. She ran previously for Michigan Township Trustee and LaPorte County Clerk.
Vance said she entered the campaign believing her years of experience in budgeting while employed at Ivy Tech could be helpful to the council.
Her top priorities include having a more set-in-stone budget to reduce uncertainty.
Vance believes the council leaves the budget too open for department heads to request additional funds when their pool of dollars starts running out before the end of the fiscal year.
Vance says that unexpected expenses are going to happen regardless. However, she believes spending can be held closer to the vest if a better job is done of anticipating future costs during budget planning.
“We need to kind of set a base, so we know what we’re working with first, then we have a better idea,” Vance said.
Vance said she also wants to bring to the council more transparency and a kinder attitude toward the public. Vance says the council should explain more before making spending decisions to give the public a better idea of how their tax dollars are being handled.
Vance believes council members could also be friendlier toward citizens with questions.
“These are people we’re responsible to be accountable to. I think they should also treat people with respect and professionalism,” Vance said.
