Candidate Q&A: Tippecanoe County Council, four seats

Four of the seven seats on the Tippecanoe County Council, the budget-setting piece of county government, will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Clockwise from the top left: Kathy Vernon, Jaime Ortiz Jr., Ryan Kennedy, Lisa Dullum, Jody Hamilton and Ben Murray. (Photos provided)

Four of the seven seats on the Tippecanoe County Council, the budget-setting piece of county government, will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Incumbents are running in each of the four districts:

• District 1: Democrat Ben Murray is running unopposed.

• District 2: Republican Jody Hamilton is being challenged by Libertarian Randy Young.

• District 3: Republican Kathy Vernon is being challenged by Libertarian Jaime Ortiz Jr.

• District 4: Democrat Lisa Dullum faces Republican challenger Ryan Kennedy.

Council members are selected by voters in their districts, so not every voter in the county will see county council on their ballots. Check the map below. Or to see who is on your ballot, go to: indianavoters.in.gov.

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

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District 2: Jody Hamilton vs. Randy Young

Why are you running?

Jody Hamilton: The main reason for running is for my kids and others who will be this community's future. Our community has so much to offer, and the growth is instrumental in future opportunities. My background is in economic development, and when I left my prior position serving the community in that capacity, I still wanted to be involved in that space. The county council has allowed me to continue my passion for being involved in the community's economic growth and, at the same time, making sure the county stays fiscally sound. There are so many opportunities in this community for the citizens we serve. We must ensure we provide the services and infrastructure within the means needed to sustain those opportunities.

Randy Young: Did not respond.

What are two priorities you want to get done during your term, if elected? And how would you get those done?

Jody Hamilton: A few years back, the public safety tax was implemented. I believe this was the right thing to do. The county has used these funds wisely and has increased the support for our community's public safety. I would like to see a portion of these funds set aside for special projects related to public safety. I would like to see projects not related to salary and focused more on providing additional safety to citizens as the community grows in new investments, increased population and labor force.  The council would need to allocate a certain amount of funds to be used for this purpose and develop a process for departments to request the funds.

Randy Young: Did not respond.

What is the biggest challenge facing Tippecanoe County in the next four years? How would you propose to solve or deal with it on the county council?

Jody Hamilton: One of the biggest challenges Tippecanoe County faces now, and will continue to face in years to come, is the labor force needs. As economic development announcements continue, we will need to provide more housing options for future employees. Increasing and maintaining infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer, will be vital to that development. Several organizations and initiatives, such as the Builders Association of Greater Lafayette, Greater Lafayette Commerce, Regional Economic Acceleration & Development Initiative, the cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County, are already partnering to help pave the way for new developments for future housing.

Randy Young: Did not respond.

Under what circumstances would you support raising or adding a local tax, as the county did with the local income tax for public safety in 2019?

Jody Hamilton: At this point, I would not be in favor of raising or adding a local tax. As a county, we are in a good position financially. 

Randy Young: Did not respond.

What are one or two things that separate you from your opponent and make you the best fit for the job?

Jody Hamilton: I believe it is my experience. Even though I have been on the council for a short time, my experience in economic development allowed me to work closely with many of the departments within the county. The Greater Lafayette community will continue to grow, as seen in the recent economic development announcements with Skywater and others. As a council, we need to ensure the county stays fiscally responsible and put things in place so we can continue growing with the community.

Randy Young: Did not respond.

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District 3: Kathy Vernon vs. Jaime Ortiz Jr.

Why are you running?

Jaime Ortiz: I’m running because I don’t like how the government responded to Covid. It was a wake-up call for me. I started to pay closer attention to things and in time learned that a lot of what the government does is not constitutional. I'm running because I don’t want what has happened the last two years to happen again, and I want to make the government smaller.

Kathy Vernon: I want to continue to guard the taxpayers’ dollars by researching the issues, asking the tough questions and looking for alternative solutions.

What are two priorities you want to get done during your term, if elected? And how would you get those done?

Jaime Ortiz: I would like to cut as much spending as possible to lower property taxes and other taxes. I’d also like to use the position to speak up and educate people about what the role of government really is and to show people that there are more than just two options when it comes to voting. As libertarians, we have a lot in common with both parties. I think we present the best aspects of both and put them into one party. Ironically, the best aspects of both are what both parties hate about each other. 

Kathy Vernon: Funding of public safety including our courts and maintaining county fund balances to weather economic times.

I would accomplish these goals by being involved, asking questions, researching issues and requests. I would prioritize requests by looking at and maintaining the sustainability study.

What is the biggest challenge facing Tippecanoe County in the next four years? How would you propose to solve or deal with it on the county council?

Jaime Ortiz: I'm not sure what the biggest issue is, I think there are several issues. An issue for me is figuring out what’s causing them and how to deal with them constitutionally. I think some issues we’re facing are ever-increasing property taxes due to local government spending our money on every pet project they can conceive, REAL crime going up in the county, and making government smaller and more transparent. 

My solution for increasing taxes is to vote to cut spending whenever I can. I would also like to change the time of the council meetings from early Tuesday morning to later in the evening when most people are off work and can attend the meetings. I want it to be as accessible as possible to people can see what their money is going towards and so that they can have an opportunity to voice their concerns. As far as crime goes, I’d like to do what I can to advocate for people to use their 2nd Amendment right to protect their life, liberty and property. I don’t believe it is a safe or good idea to outsource your safety to others (law enforcement), especially when the Supreme Court has ruled that they’re not obligated to help you when their life is potentially in danger, as well. Cops are a reactionary force, they can’t be everywhere at once and crime will always occur. We have to take our safety into our own hands. 

Kathy Vernon: The biggest challenge is funding of public safety including the courts as the county grows the needs for funding increase. I would deal with this issue by prioritizing and monitoring the needs regarding public  safety. I would also develop and implement a three- to five-year strategic plan.

Under what circumstances would you support raising or adding a local tax, as the county did with the local income tax for public safety in 2019?

Jaime Ortiz: None. I’m looking to cut taxes not increase them.  If by public safety you mean funding the police I would say that we can cut spending in some areas while supporting the police and not have to increase taxes. 

Kathy Vernon: Before supporting either raising or adding a local tax, the issue must be researched. Tough questions would  need to be asked and alternative solutions must be investigated. My top priority is to continue to guard the taxpayers’ dollars.

What are one or two things that separate you from your opponent and make you the best fit for the job?

Jaime Ortiz: There are many issues we face, but I have focused primarily on those issues I find to be most important to Tippecanoe county residents. I’m actually going to follow the Constitution and limit the government. People know how to spend their money better than the government. 

Kathy Vernon: My experience on the county council working with department heads as well as understanding the budget process. I have been able to ask the tough questions and communicate effectively which enables me to make the best decisions for the betterment of Tippecanoe County. 

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District 4: Lisa Dullum vs. Ryan Kennedy

Why are you running?

Lisa Dullum: The county council is the fiscal arm of county government, and I have experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets at Hewlett Packard (HP) and Cummins Engine. I ran in 2018 to serve our community and to bring a new perspective to county government. I have successfully served on the council for the past four years, and I want to continue making Tippecanoe County a great place to live. 

Ryan Kennedy: My business is based in Tippecanoe County, I live in our community and my children go to local schools. I am fully vested in the continued success of our community and our county. 

What are two priorities you want to get done during your term, if elected? And how would you get those done?

Lisa Dullum: First, we need to be fiscally responsible and maintain the long-term fiscal health of the county. I would continue to make the tough decisions that have led to our current strong cash balance and a high bond rating while meeting community needs.

Second, we need to thoughtfully invest the remainder of the $38 million American Rescue Plan money the county received from the federal government. We have already allocated about half the funds to Food Finders Food Bank, broadband service for the entire county, infrastructure projects to attract new businesses, and recreation along the Wabash. With the remainder of the money, I would continue to invest in infrastructure projects like a new regional sewage district to help clean our water, as well as opportunities to address the growing mental health crisis.

Ryan Kennedy: I want to ensure that our county government continues to have the funding it needs to run efficiently and make sure that we efficiently plan for current and future growth. 

What is the biggest challenge facing Tippecanoe County in the next four years? How would you propose to solve or deal with it on the county council?

Lisa Dullum: From my work on the council as well as the different nonprofit organizations I serve on, I believe we face a crisis in mental health which includes, but is not limited to, addiction, depression and anxiety. 

This is a society wide problem that needs to be addressed on multiple levels including by nonprofits and the government. For example, Lafayette Daybreak Rotary, where I am a member, annually funds scholarships for future mental health care providers. In the county council we have an opportunity with the money from the opioid settlement and the American Rescue Plan to support existing programs as well as new solutions.

Ryan Kennedy: Our biggest challenge will be how we as a county handle the growth we have experienced over the last few years. Greater Lafayette is an area that continues to be desirable for both employers and residents. We need to make sure that we properly allocate funds to the various county departments so that the current needs of our community are being met while keeping an eye on the future growth our area. 

Under what circumstances would you support raising or adding a local tax, as the county did with the local income tax for public safety in 2019?

Lisa Dullum: Because of our current strong fiscal position in the county, I don’t foresee any new taxes in the future. However, if something should change, I would follow the feedback that I receive from the community, just like I did in 2019.

At that time, the financial impact of the opioid crisis was unsustainable and was limiting our ability to serve the needs of our growing population. Community feedback supported a public safety tax to help fund these needs. With that money we have been able to add additional personnel and equipment at the sheriff’s department, community corrections, prosecutor’s office, and probation office without impacting the other needs of the county.

Ryan Kennedy: The county council needs to figure out ways to deal with the rising costs of doing business without raising local taxes. We need to make sure that our tax dollars are being appropriated properly rather than raising taxes. 

What are one or two things that separate you from your opponent and make you the best fit for the job?

Lisa Dullum: I think my current experience on the council, my previous work experience managing large budgets in a complex organization and my involvement in local nonprofit organizations have made me an effective councilor. I am always interested in listening and learning how we can improve our community. 

Ryan Kennedy: The first thing that separates me from my opponent is my experience in the private sector. My ability to work with others towards achieving a common goal is demonstrated on a daily basis. Secondly, I believe that the interests of our community as a whole should come before personal interests or friendships. 

BALLOTS, VOTER REGISRATION, ETC.: Who will be on your ballot? Need to check your voter registered? That and more, available at Indiana’s voter portal, Indianavoters.in.gov.

EARLY VOTING: For a list of early voting sites in Tippecanoe County ahead of the Nov. 8 election, here’s the schedule.

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Candidate bios

Lisa Dullum

Age: 56

Occupation: Retired Marketing and Engineering Professional from Hewlett Packard (HP) and Cummins Engine responsible for multi-million-dollar budgets.

Education: MBA from UCLA and MS Engineering from University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign

Past elected positions, if any: Currently on County Council District 4 (West Lafayette)

Immediate family: Husband and two children. One at Purdue, the other is a senior at West Lafayette High School.

Your campaign site online: www.DullumForCountyCouncil.com

Jody Hamilton

Age: 45

Occupation:  External Affairs Director, Tipmont REMC Wintek; President, Hamilton Creative Concrete, Inc.

Education: Ivy Tech Community College, Business Administration

Past elected positions, if any: Currently serving as County Council District 2 Representative

Immediate family: Spouse – John Hamilton; Daughter – Dilynn Hamilton; Son – Rylan Hamilton

Ryan Kennedy

Age: 41

Occupation: home builder

Education: BS Purdue University School of Technology 

Past elected positions, if any: none

Immediate family: wife, Sarah, sons, Carter 7, and Aiden, 9 months

Your campaign site online: Facebook: @kennedyforcountycouncil

Jaime Ortiz Jr.

Age:27

Occupation: I work at SIA doing quality control in body shop

Education: High school and some college

No past election history 

Campaign site: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078705978838

Kathy Vernon

Age: 64 

Occupation: Retired Executive Territory Business Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb; Community Liaison for Congressman Jim Baird

Past elected positions: West Lafayette City Council, 1992-1998, Council President 1996 and 1997; Tippecanoe County Council, 2001-2012, Council President 2004 and 2005; Tippecanoe County Council, 2014-present

Immediate family: Randy Vernon, husband. Kristoff, dog (rescue in 2020)

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