Platform

Public Safety

Public safety is a top priority for any community. It is the foundation upon which all other aspects of society are built. It is the first job of any elected official. A safe and secure community allows citizens to live and work without fear, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that public safety is maintained. This can be achieved through a variety of measures, including investing in law enforcement and emergency services.

Fiscal Responsibility

Fiscal responsibility is an important aspect of governance. It is essential that government officials are good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and that they use it wisely. This means being transparent and accountable in the budgeting process and making sure that every dollar is being spent in the most efficient and effective way possible. Fiscal responsibility also means being mindful of the long-term financial health of the city and making sure that investments are made in a sustainable way that will benefit future generations.

Quality of Life

Quality of life is a key consideration for any community. It encompasses a wide range of issues. Government officials must work to ensure that all citizens have access to the resources and opportunities they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. This may involve investing in infrastructure projects, supporting local businesses, and creating an environment where our residents want to spend their free time here. Quality of life is also about creating an atmosphere that is conducive to happiness and well-being, such as investing in parks, recreational facilities, and cultural events.

A more in-depth look at the three pillars.

I firmly believe that there are three pillars of a strong city and when a decision is being considered, the
following three questions need to be asked:

1. Does it jeopardize public safety?
2. Does it make financial sense?
3. Does it impact the quality of life for our residents and guests?

Pillar 1: Public Safety
Public safety encompasses Police, Fire, and Public works.
A. Police- The target for our police department, first and foremost, is to attract the most qualified candidates. Before the vetting process begins, we must ensure that officers are compensated adequately and are presented opportunities to advance within the department. Additionally, the department needs access to emerging training and technologies. As the old saying goes, “You never rise to the occasion, you fall back to the last level of your training.” Therefore, training will
be a colossal focus along with continuing to invest in technologies that will provide officers the resources to effectively perform their jobs. We have a stellar police force, and we need to continue to progress forward as a city. Thriving cities continue to have low crime rates and if we can invest in our police department, we will ensure that crime stays low.
B. Fire– The goal for our fire department is to be adequately staffed with the most competent candidates. Creating a multi-year plan of action will safeguard our city from being understaffed. Recruiting within our city limits and from the CTE fire classes at the high school level are paramount to building our fire team. Training also will be a huge priority. The more knowledge and experience our firefighters possess to protect themselves and our community is of utter importance. Our firefighters are second to none. They deserve adequate staffing, the equipment to perform effectively, and a comfortable space to rest between calls.
C. Public Works– Public works is a huge part of public safety and needs to be treated as such. From clearing roads during storms to removing hazards from roadways, Public Works employees are an important facet of community safety. We need to make sure that our public works are operating effectively and that’s only possible if they have the appropriate equipment and the
training. We also need to look for ways to compensate them.
Pillar 2: Fiscal Responsibility
Fiscal responsibility is one of those talking points that is brought up in every election but rarely gone into in depth. First, we need to be more efficient. We can achieve this through many avenues including the utilization of technology. One example would be allowing building permits to be applied for online, which frees up staff to complete more pressing tasks. Additionally, vital functions of government will need a forensic audit to ensure they are sustainable. We cannot effectively manage or move forward in any area without accurate data. It is important to
realize there will always be capital expenditures. A former banker, Jamie Dimond, has said, “You cannot control income, you can only control expenses.” We need to establish a plan to guarantee that we are being fiscally responsible and able to meet our financial responsibilities. The bottom line is our governing body needs to create a rock-solid financial plan; the city cannot keep leaning on our residents to fulfill any financial shortfalls.

Pillar 3: Quality of Life
Quality of life is an important aspect of any city. Our citizens are important stakeholders whose opinions will be valued in creating a sustained quality of life plan for them and their families. Positive changes in quality of life can happen when the first two pillars are sound. We need to get serious about
utilizing and collaborating with our community partners and facilitating their investment in Hobart.
Downtown– I plan to establish a downtown business committee. Stakeholders who have invested the most to our downtown deserve to have a seat at the table and feel that their input is valued. The job of the city would be to help provide resources to help these businesses thrive. The lake will be a huge part
of the decision-making process. Hobart is unique and special in the sense that we have a lake and beautiful walkway, amazing restaurants and businesses, and concert venues. We need to make sure that we utilize these areas to their maximum potential in support of our downtown businesses.
Route 30– We cannot bury our heads in the sand and act like the Route 30 corridor does not need a shot in the arm towards revitalization. This corridor houses the mall and other large buildings that provide a huge tax base to the city. We need to partner with the US 30 businesses and see how we can assist and
foster new life into these establishments..
District 5-Another goal is to empower positive change in our neglected districts. My mother Connie Mathews and grandfather Gene Mathews live in District 5. I want residents in this district to know that I hear you and that it is my mission, if elected, to remedy issues that have plagued this area for years. Top priorities include creating solutions to the sound issues from traffic, lack of sidewalks, revitalization
of Rt 6, and more. This area is a gateway into the city from I-65 and deserves its due diligence.
Youth/Young Adults– The youth are our future and we need to more effectively meet their personal and family needs to increase the longevity of families remaining in Hobart for years to come. Like many of you, I am raising children in Hobart and want to provide the best opportunities for them to grow,
flourish, and plant roots here as well. Utilizing students from our schools, I would like to create a council that meets with the mayor’s staff quarterly to provide feedback.

Hobart has a plethora to offer our community members and beyond and we cannot remain Northwest Indiana and Chicaoland’s best kept secret any longer. I will be reaching out to the high school’s marketing students to challenge them to create real-life marketing pieces to help promote our story while providing them experience..
Growth– We need to continue to grow responsibly. We cannot chase development for the sake of expansion. We need to attract quality enterprises that are WINS for the city. While growth is essential, we need to be selective in our choices and not settle for just anything that lands in our lap. My administration will be aggressive in chasing the right developments for the right locations and right
reasons.
The Future is Now and I hope you will support the Huddlestun for Hobart campaign.