Republican Candidate for

Blackford County Commissioner

Douglas Smith

• Blackford High School - 1988

• Ivy Tech State College

• U.S. Navy - 1990 to 1994

• Veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield

• Served aboard the USS Saratoga CV-60 Mayport, FL

• Wife - Misty

• Children: Rylee(9), Peyton(8), Layne(6) and Brayden(5)

• Hartford City Wesleyan Church

• Newly Elected to the nomination Committee

• Currently employed at 3M in Hartford City

• Secretary - Hartford City Parks and Recreation Board - Appointed 2008

• Co-Founder - Blackford County Beautification Committee - 2007-2008

• Join Hands Day - Participant 2008

• Assistant T-Ball Coach 2007-Current

• Division 1 Soccer Coach 2006

• Singing/Songwriting

• Playing Guitar

• Painting

• Coaching my children's athletic teams

I was born and raised in Montpelier and have lived most of my adult life in Hartford City so my affection for this county runs deep. I am nostalgic by nature and pine for the days I spent in a Little League uniform and summers spent swimming at Lake Blue Water. Those are some of the memories that I want to help create for my children and that can only happen through continued support and growth of our community.

It wasn't until I had children of my own that I came to realize the importance of being a servant. I want my family to have the quality of life like the one that I came to appreciate as a young man.

By serving as the chairman of the Blackford County Beautification Committee, I watched this team of committed volunteers clean up and beautify blighted areas to help create a viable option for businesses to call Blackford County home. We have been very creative in our approach and execution and am very proud of our accomplishments thus far.

It is that same drive, tenacity and creativity that I will bring to this role of leadership. If given the opportunity, I can assure you that I have many ideas for growth and quality of life in an ever-changing social and economic environment an I have listed below:

#1. Ensuring that the County Comprehensive plan(last updated in 1974) is updated and maintained - We need to have an updated Comprehensive Plan that allows us to focus on where we want growth and how much growth is expected in a five year period. If we cannot provide a clear "business plan", then there are types of grants that we eliminate ourselves from being considered for. we also need to show potential business owners that we are a community that plans for the future.

#2. T.I.F (Tax Incremental Funding) program (Urban Renewal - By using new tax revenues from a specific location, we can set aside those taxes in an account to later fund a specific beautification or building project. Doing this greatly increases our ability to change an area of concern without raising taxes. It's called being financially responsible!

#3. CAFO - Understanding and meeting with the management - I am learning everything I can about the operation and zoning laws pertaining to a CAFO. I am meeting with the owners of existing CAFOs in the surrounding areas in an effort to ensure that any CAFOs locating in Blackford County will meet the existing criteria for operating clean, efficient and environmentally responsible animal farms.

#4. Promote Healthier Community - A Clean Air Ordinance and trails for running and walking. The clean air ordinance at this time pertains to confined spaces like restaurants and family gathering spaces. If we cannot move in the direction of a healthy community, we cannot compete for the quality of living that attracts potential residents to our communities and helps retain our current residents as well. By adding the benefit of a walking, running and biking trail we increase our visibility as a " World-Class" community.

#5. Beautification - retention of our citizens - We need to be proactive in enticing potential residents or business owners in living in a community that is clean, beautiful and healthy

#6. We need to prepare now for the 2010 tax structure changes - We need to be studying NOW the effects that the tax cuts will bring in 2010 on the infrastructure of this county. Without the revenues from property taxes to help pay for our county expenses we will have to be creative in coming up with a solution to make up for these losses.