Candidate Q&A: Lafayette City Council District 4

A candidate Q&A with Democratic incumbent Lauren Ahlersmeyer and Libertarian Josiah Eller, seeking the District 4 seat on the Lafayette City Council.

Lauren Ahlersmeyer and Josiah Eller

Democratic incumbent Lauren Ahlersmeyer and Libertarian Josiah Eller are seeking the District 4 seat on the Lafayette City Council in the Nov. 7 election.

Here, the candidates discuss their approach to the four-year position.

• For more: Find bios of each candidate, along with a city council district map and information about where and when to vote at the end of this article.

Why are you running?

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: I am seeking re-election with a commitment to serving others effectively. My foremost objective is to ensure that our city's services, amenities and safety remain top-notch. As a dedicated community member, I believe in the power of proactive leadership to enhance our quality of life. Through collaboration and strategic decision-making, we can keep Lafayette a great place to work, live and play.  Looking into the future, my goal is to keep Lafayette grounded in excellence and safety for all.

Josiah Eller: I was nominated by a friend of mine in the party. When I won the nomination, I asked myself if I should run. I always assume the right politician for the job shouldn’t actually want the power. I do not want the power at all, so I figured that made me perfectly qualified. 

How long have you lived in Lafayette? And how did you land in the city?

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: I have lived in Lafayette for about 38 years.  As a child, my father’s job required the family to move here.  I have lived in Lafayette since then.

Josiah Eller: I have lived in Lafayette for just over two years. Previous to that I had lived in West Lafayette for almost 10 years. I was born in Lafayette and haven’t made it far geographically. I grew up in Warren County, but moved to the Greater Lafayette area soon after high school. I’ve always had family here and there are more opportunities here than where I grew up. 

Name two of your top priorities for the district. And how will you handle them?

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: District 4 contains predominantly residential and local business properties.  Efficient services and neighborhood safety are principal issues for this area of the city.  Safety is the cornerstone of community well-being, encompassing physical and mental security.  Strengthening community-minded law enforcement practices, promoting community policing and investing in mental health resources are integral to this endeavor. Optimizing budgets to ensure efficient, high-quality and equitable city services is important for the quality of life for all residents of the city.

Josiah Eller: I would like to privatize as much as possible, and for the things that cannot be privatized, I’d like to see maximum accountability. People grow by seizing their own opportunities. People also grow through hardship. I believe government has become much too big and people tend to believe the government should do much to support their causes. If someone is passionate about something, there’s a good chance the people in government aren’t. The right thing is to allow people to follow their own passion rather than rely on government. For example: I followed a local politician a few years back who suggested the government hire people to clean up the levee. It’s not a bad idea, but rather than some faceless entity taxing you, why not have a fish fry and invite the entire community? We could all get to know one another, save tax dollars and clean up the levee while meeting new friends. 

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the district? And how do you propose to solve or deal with it?

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: In this largely residential area, maintaining safe, resilient neighborhoods is a key issue.  Ensuring adequate support for community policing programs, such as neighborhood watch and neighborhood associations, strengthens bonds between community members and encourages communication and cooperation, all of which help foster a secure living environment.  In tandem, budgeting for proactive police support, including neighborhood meeting attendance, educational opportunities, and the take-home car program, enhances awareness and trust between the city and its residents and envelops officers into part of the neighborhood community.  Wholistically, this fosters unity and empowers neighborhoods to address safety concerns proactively.

Josiah Eller: I think the biggest problem is getting people to accept the best answer: government should do very little to nothing to solve your problems. Any issues my district faces, I would do everything I can to get local churches, groups and the community to volunteer to helping fix the problem. Beyond that, I would not support any government intervention.

How well do you think the city has handled issues of available and affordable housing? What is the most pressing issue related to housing and how would you address it?

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: All Hoosiers have the right to a safe and clean place to live.  The city currently exercises all available authority to support this.  The city’s engineering department is dedicated to ensuring residences are safe for all occupants and works to enforce all local and state health and fire codes.  Budgeting to ensure this department is properly staffed and adequately supplied will help keep our residents safe.  In Indiana, state law prohibits local government from regulating rates on privately owned property.  Thus, the city works with the Lafayette Housing Authority which works with landlords and renters to aid those who need help finding and securing affordable housing.  Providing local oversight and staying up to date on this department’s dispersion of federal assistance funding will continue to support those needing assistance.  I also encourage residents to support state candidates who view affordable housing as a top priority.

Josiah Eller: Quite frankly, I have no clue how the city has handled it. As Thomas Sowell points out in his book “Basic Economics,” rent control has the same outcome every time it is implemented: rent goes up. Lowering taxes always incentivizes growth. That’s the best way to handle it every time. The most pressing issue is HUD housing bringing in career criminals into our city. There isn’t much anyone can do about this at a local level, but I would do everything I could to rally the community to pester the governor about changing those policies. 

What, if anything, should the city do about the Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s plans to build a water pipeline from Tippecanoe County to feed developments in Boone County and in communities along the 35-mile route?

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: Protecting and preserving our city’s supply of clean and safe water for all residents is essential and I will fight to ensure the long-term sustainability of our community.  I think the addition of this pipeline, and the transfer of this significant amount of water, will have far-reaching ramifications beyond what anyone anticipates.  Additionally, the environmental impact of the displacement of water on wildlife and residents along the pipeline route will be significant.  The city should continue to listen to the concerns of the impacted residents while doing all it can to challenge the placement of the pipeline.

Josiah Eller: This is exactly why I cannot stand big government. Why should people outside of Lafayette be deciding where our water goes? The correct answer is they shouldn’t. Unfortunately, this is the nature of government. Lebanon’s Mayor Matt Gentry says they cannot provide the water currently, so the answer is currently, you shouldn’t be allowing people to build something if you cannot provide water. Instead, the government is essentially going to try stealing water from our community. Lafayette should take every single legal means necessary to protect our water resources.

Rate how the current city administration has run and positioned Lafayette for the future. What changes, if any, would you like to see in the city’s focus?

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: I think the city’s current administration has done a phenomenal job stimulating economic growth, improving amenities and infrastructure, and preparing for the future. For forthcoming endeavors, it will be important to continue to consider the needs of residents and businesses, evolving the city’s response as needs change and arise.

In this capacity, the city should continue its focus on enhancing the standard of living for all citizens in the most fiscally responsible way possible.

Josiah Eller: To be honest, I wouldn’t be giving a stellar grade. When I was a senior in high school in 1999, Lafayette had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. I realize the economy isn’t what it was then, but we have higher crime and a worse unemployment rate. Obviously the economy will go up and down naturally, and federal and state policy have negatively impacted who has moved into our city, but I really don’t think we’ve ever lowered taxes. It’s always a nasty temptation to raise taxes, but Knox County (Tennessee) Mayor Glenn Jacobs has very libertarian leanings and has lowered taxes there. They have seen incredible growth because of it. I would also like to see more accountability for our police force. When we had an officer throw a young man out of his wheelchair about eight years ago, I don’t believe taxpayers were even allowed to know how much of their money settled that lawsuit. Mayor Roswarski directed me to contact the chief of police, and the chief didn’t have good answers either. If we are to have a police force ran by government, there should be way more accountability than this. 

Name two specific things that separate you from your opponent’s and why they matter.

Lauren Ahlersmeyer: I think my experience as a public educator and my perspective as a woman separate my decision-making ability from my opponent.  As an educator, I've honed essential skills in communication, problem-solving, and community engagement.  I work daily to support a wide variety of needs from our most vulnerable population, all while considering the diverse backgrounds my students bring to the classroom.  Being a woman, particularly in the roles of wife and mother, I am keenly aware of how accessibility and safety affect daily quality of life.  My innate instincts to nurture and care have instilled in me a strong commitment to building a safer and prosperous future for all families.

Josiah Eller: Partisanship seems to matter more today than ever. That’s unfortunate, but I have principles that I believe can appeal to people on both sides of the aisle. I’m personally conservative. While Republican candidates may talk the talk when it comes to small government, they certainly haven’t walked the walk. I believe very strongly in small government and will prove it. On the other side, I sincerely believe in police accountability. This is an issue that the political left has far more concerns about and I share their concern. 

Candidate bios

Lauren Ahlersmeyer

Party: Democratic

Age: 48

Occupation:  Educator for the TSC, current Councilperson for the City of Lafayette, District 4

Education:  Lafayette School Corp.:  Edgelea, Tecumseh, Lafayette Jefferson; Purdue University

Past elected positions, if any: Lafayette City Council, District 4

Community boards or other community service:  MOPs, Boy Scouts of America, Climate Action Committee, Lafayette Tree Advisory, Three for Me Parent Involvement Program, Kids Count, Highland Park Neighborhood Association, Community Garden, HTLC Youth Group

Immediate family:  Husband, Scott; three children, Rudy, Charlie and Harry; parents, Leon and Charlene Hall; brothers, Todd (spouse Melissa) and Adam (spouse Lizzy) Hall

Your campaign site online: NA

Josiah Eller

Party: Libertarian

Age: 42

Occupation: Independent contractor

Education: Some college. I attended Pensacola Christian College and Western Indiana Baptist College

Past elected positions, if any: none

Community boards or other community service: none. 

Campaign site:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089439855761&mibextid=LQQJ4d

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ABOUT THE NOV. 7 MUNICIPAL ELECTION

WHERE TO VOTE AHEAD OF NOV. 7: Early voting started Tuesday, Oct. 24. Here are the times and locations. Voters should bring a valid ID.

• 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24,-Friday, Oct. 27: Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette.

• 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Oct. 28: Clarks Hill Christian Church, 9510 Pearl St., Clarks Hill.

• 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 30-Friday, Nov. 3: Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette

• Noon-6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2-Friday, Nov. 3: West Lafayette City Hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave.; Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette; First Church of the Nazarene, 3801 Union St., Lafayette.

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4: West Lafayette City Hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave.; Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette; First Church of the Nazarene, 3801 Union St., Lafayette.

• 8 a.m.-noon Monday, Nov. 6: Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette.

ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACES: Polls will be open 6 a.m-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. Registered voters in Tippecanoe County may use any vote center.

• West Lafayette Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road

• Faith West Community Center, 1920 Northwestern Ave.

• West Lafayette City Hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave.

• Evangelical Covenant Church, 3600 S. Ninth St., Lafayette

• Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette

• Northend Community Center, 2000 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette

• Christ United Methodist Church, 3610 S. 18^th St., Lafayette

• First Church of the Nazarene, 3801 Union St., Lafayette

• Gathering Point Church, 7201 Wesleyan Drive, Dayton

ON THE NOV. 7 BALLOT: Get a full list of candidates here.

CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS AND THE CANDIDATES ON YOUR SPECIFIC BALLOT: Go to the Secretary of State’s portal at www.indianavoters.com.

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