Election Q&A: Tony Roswarski aims for sixth term as Lafayette mayor

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, a Lafayette Democrat first elected in 2003, would match former Mayor Jim Riehle with a sixth term, if elected again on Nov. 7. What he sees in the next four years

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Election Q&A: Tony Roswarski aims for sixth term as Lafayette mayor

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, a Lafayette Democrat first elected in 2003, would match former Mayor Jim Riehle with a sixth term, if elected again on Nov. 7.

Roswarski, a 1978 Lafayette Jeff grad who spent two decades with the Lafayette Police Department and one term on the Lafayette City Council, faces Libertarian Benji Milanowski on this year’s ballot.

Here, Roswarski talks about why he’s running, how – if he wins – this likely won’t be his last bid for re-election and what he sees as the challenges facing Lafayette in the next four years.

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski talks ahead of a last-beam ceremony for the Lafayette Public Safety Center in downtown in 2021. (Photo: Dave Bangert)

Question: Everybody starts here: Why are you running again? What’s the goal for you?

Tony Roswarski: I still love the community, and I feel that I still have the energy and enthusiasm to do the job. We’ve had lots of success with economic development, and I certainly want to work to continue those. I've built those relationships, not only here, but in Japan, in China, with the different companies that we have. So, to continue that momentum and those relationships. Then, for all of us, the quality of life issue, being involved in that. Our parks are in great shape, our infrastructure is in good shape, lots of things happening with Loeb Stadium with our concerts and all those kinds of things, things happening with the Long Center. All that, I know are important for people's quality of life. We just did a ribbon cutting on Armstrong Park improvements and McCaw Park is under construction. And then the tough things, too, right? That's why I think experience matters. I'm dealing with the LEAP water situation and different things like that, that I think require experience and relationships that have been built with other government officials at different levels to be able to continue a lot of that progress that we've made. My whole family lives here, and that's a big part of it for me. We're all here. This community means everything to me. I feel like I’ve still got the energy and the drive and the vision to continue to help move us forward.

Question: Did you think in 2003, when you were running for mayor for the first time, that you’d be here talking about 2023? Was that a goal? Did you see it playing out this way back then?

Tony Roswarski: I can't say that that was necessarily a goal. But I will say the time has gone very fast. And the job proved to be, for me, a blessing – what I would have hoped it'd be. You know from being around that there are a lot of difficult days, too. But I love this job. I felt like I prepared for it. I felt like being on the police department, working in our schools, all the boards I served on, and then being on the city council for four years. I did four years of budgets. I did four years of being involved in projects. I think that was important to help get me ready for this position. Then, of course, you continue to learn as you go. I had the relationships established with people here, I think, which was also helpful when I stepped into the office on day one. I didn't have to try to establish every relationship with other elected officials and people in the community, because I had done that through my community involvement.

Question: How much of it still feels new? In the past four years, is there an example of a time when you said this feels like a brand new experience?

Tony Roswarski: I’d say it’s the LEAP water situation. I would have not anticipated that in 2023 we would be dealing with the potential transfer of millions and millions of gallons of water a day from the aquifer here in Tippecanoe County to Lebanon. And it’s not just for LEAP. I have to be careful and say it’s for other communities down there, too.

Question: They’ve been pretty clear about that. It just seems like a bigger issue, correct?

Tony Roswarski: Right, it causes even more concern. I would have to say that’s probably one of the biggest, all-time surprises over the last 20 years. That’s not something that anybody saw on the horizon.

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For more:

Election Q&A: Benji Milanowski’s third-party bid for Lafayette mayor

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Question: What’s the game plan, then? We were here, just a year ago, learning in an offhand way that it was even being contemplated by the IEDC. How are you looking to manage it, or even stop it? Or is your approach a mix of both?

Tony Roswarski: I'm telling everybody that everybody needs to get involved, whether it's through your local government, through state reps, county and myself. We all need to get involved, because we're going to have to pull together as a coalition. And we're going to have to help that coalition to grow, up and down the Wabash River corridor and through the Teays River Valley area, to get more people involved, get more legislators involved, to help us come up with a solution.

Going forward, I am still very concerned, because I don't believe that testing has been adequate to this point. And people change, right? Administrations change. The leader of the IEDC will change. This is not just about now. This is about 100 years from now. And so we have got to get this right. And we can't let a short-sighted view rule the day in how these decisions are made. I mean, there was an extreme lack of transparency. I don't think even the IEDC can argue that. We have got to ensure that we get this right, either through legislation, being able to manage and control the size of the pipe or the flow of the water, or other efforts that might even come from the Army Corps of Engineers and different things to ensure there's oversight from an environmental piece even that I think nobody has really looked into very deeply at this point.

I plan to do everything I can to help continue to be a part of this discussion to help protect this community for decades and generations to come.

Question: It was interesting to hear the local legislators who are on your side and working on legislation about the water rights and the pipeline, including (state Rep.) Sharon Nagele (R-Attica), saying that they were not going to sell anyone a really pretty picture, that this may be something we can't stop, but we can manage. I mean, are you of that mindset that this is too far down the road to stop completely?

Tony Roswarski: I don't know if I’m too far down the road to think that it can't be stopped completely, at least temporarily, until we can understand better all the things involved, from the effects on wells of people that live in the area to the effect on the actual river to the effect on wildlife and the ecological systems that are involved from how the river and stormwater help create wetlands. All of those things that could be impacted. So, I would at least like to see it stopped for a while so we ensure some of those things. I mean, we cannot ruin the lives of people in one area for the benefit of another area. That's just not the Hoosier way, right? That's just not the right thing to do. We have got to continue on.

One of the things that sticks out to me, we asked, for literally months, what when you look at the testing, what parameters are you going to be looking for? What would be good numbers? What would be bad? How would you look at figuring that out? And we never could get an answer. And, now, all of a sudden when the first bit of testing is done, we hear, Oh, it's textbook. That's the terms we got: Oh, it's textbook – just the way you want it to come out. Well, if that's true, why didn't you show us the textbook before it started? That part doesn't feel right to me. It doesn't feel comfortable. It's hard to accept those results, when the process was managed in that manner.

Question: Are you hearing from Gov. (Eric) Holcomb or (Secretary of Commerce) David Rosenberg or anyone at that level, saying, Yeah, we’re going to slow down? Or are you still getting some kind of silence?

Tony Roswarski: I have not talked to Gov. Holcomb. I talked to Brad Chambers on a couple of occasions while he was still the Secretary of Commerce. We’re still have meetings with the IEDC through Greater Lafayette Commerce. … But no, to answer your questions, we have not gotten any indication from anyone along those lines, that there's any intention at this point of stopping or even slowing anything down. That's why I say we’ve got to continue to build coalitions and to bring other groups into this that might be able to bring additional pressure to bear to get it, for right now, slowed down.

Question: Do you see the question about the pipeline and the LEAP District dominating your next term? Does it have that kind of potential?

Tony Roswarski: It will be a lot of it. But I do want to talk about a couple things, too, that we're doing that tie into water. At the city of Lafayette, we've been doing testing ourselves, and we've drilled test wells and things like that. We plan to put two in in 2024. I think we can get them both done in a year. Our goal is to put two additional well fields in the city of Lafayette, one to the southeast and one to the southwest. In full transparency, we started that before LEAP came to be, so I don't want to make it sound like it was because of LEAP. We started about a year-and-a-half before we even heard about LEAP, just because we're growing. We've annexed ground, and we're looking to the south and the southeast. LEAP has probably, I guess, increased our sense of urgency just a little bit. But we started before we ever heard about LEAP. We had people look at it, out to like 2050, the next 25 to 30 years, where we might need to be. So, that's going to be a big piece of this.

Then we're going to put an additional $30 million worth of infrastructure into the ground in utility service areas 11A and 11B (in southern parts of the city). One service area out by Rainybrook (subdivision), that's already out to bid. And then we're going to do another big section to the southeast. That will open up initially, once it's in, about the first thousand additional acres for development, over time. And then over time, it will have the capacity to open up about 4,000 acres to the southwest and to the southeast. We are going into the next phase of our infrastructure expansion, as we look to how the community grows. We all know that we have a need for housing, and we’ll continue to open up land for additional housing. But we'll be sizing things that we could do other things, also. The city is moving with our infrastructure, also.

Question: When you talk about cooperation from other parts of the community, you’re going to lose your partner in West Lafayette, when Mayor John Dennis retires. How do you see that relationship changing?

Tony Roswarski: It will be different for me, because John and I have been friends for 40 years. And we spent a lot of time together on police calls (when we were with the Lafayette Police Department), socially and then in our mayor's roles. So, it will be different. But (unopposed mayoral candidate) Erin (Easter) is very collaborative. That's why John said, This is who I'm going to support and endorse very early on. She believes in that sense of cooperation. She worked at (Greater Lafayette Commerce) for several years, so she knows how that works. Then she worked with John. She's already worked with (Lafayette economic development director) Dennis Carson, both with GLC and now counterparts in their respective roles for each community. So, I don't see a change in the level of cooperation, at all. Probably won't joke around quite as much as John and I do. But other than that, now we’ll cooperate and collaborate, and it'll be fine.

Question: I’m not sure if anybody jokes around as much as John Dennis does in his role.

Tony Roswarski: You’re right. I’m a lot more reserved than John is, for sure.

Question: If you had visions for the next four years, what do you say the two biggest things are that you want to get done?

Tony Roswarski: One of them, absolutely, is the additional well fields and the extension of the $30 million worth of infrastructure there. There is no doubt that we need to get that done, for the housing and for the growth that needs to take place and to meet the needs of a community. Then, I think, we continue to work with our employers and new employers on workforce training and to do those things involving quality of life that allow us to attract and to keep talent. I mean, there's still lots of open jobs in this whole community.

Question: How much of this job have you found over all these years has been about laying out a vision for all the big issues? And how much of it has been about dealing with basic services? Where do you find that line?

Tony Roswarski: I don't know that there is a line, actually. It blurs together on a daily and weekly basis. But I will tell you this, you have to do both. I believe a mayor should do both. And I think people will tell you that I'm very hands on, whether it comes to getting the trash picked up or helping Subaru do another expansion or bringing in a GE Aviation to the community. Whether it's a pothole, snow removal or a global competition to land another company here, I feel like I'm very hands on and get involved with all of that. And it does make for a lot of 10-,  12-hour days. But that's what I committed to people to do. If you remember back in 2003, I told people that I was looking for a job, not a position. And I feel like I've kept my word.

Question: That’s always seemed like one big difference between your office and John Dennis’ in West Lafayette. Mayor Dennis portrays himself as more of a delegator. If I asked him about a specific thing, he'll say, go talk to a department head or whatever. You tend to know curb-cut measurement kind of details. Is that a fair description? And, if so, is it a time to step back a little bit on that heading into what would be a sixth term? Or do you see that's just something you can't break?

Tony Roswarski: No, that's something that I think that I'll keep doing. I don't feel like I micromanage, but I feel like (department heads) like that engagement. I have direct meetings with every department head twice a month, where they sit in here and we go over things. That's on top of the actual monthly staff meeting for all staff. And I’ve tried to keep myself very accessible. I think that having hands on without micromanaging actually allows all of us to be more effective, because I think our communication is smoother. I think we get to the details that we need to get to. So, no, I don't see myself changing that for me and the team that I've assembled here and the culture that we've created. I mean, that model works good for us.

Question: Four years from now, what would you tell people would make a successful sixth term? What would be a good way to gauge it?

Tony Roswarski: For me, it would be managing the LEAP situation in a way that everybody feels that it came out with a reasonable and a sustainable conclusion. I know that is a tall mountain.

Then I feel like being able to increase our workforce and that job pool, and continue to create higher-paying jobs, that we would continue to raise the median income in the community and continue to do the things that make people want to live here. And public safety will always be my No. 1 priority, that we're able to do the things in the police department, both with sworn and civilian positions. We've hired a lot more civilians than people realize. We have civilian (crime scene investigators) now. We've created two civilian community service officers that will be filled, pretty soon. We’ll continue to do those things with public safety to keep the community safe.

Question: Republicans didn’t put up a challenger again this election. Same with in West Lafayette. Do you take that as an indication that things are going the way people want them to go? Do you take that as a sign of success? Or is it something else?

Tony Roswarski: I think people understand that I care. And I think they trust me that I'm giving 100% every day, when I come to work, to try to do the right things for them and their families. My family is here, too, right? And I've got kids and grandkids that live in this community, play in the same parks, travel the same roads, shop in the same stores. I think people see that. And they also do see that cooperation. I cannot tell you how many people, still to this day, say, man, we love to see you guys getting along with Lafayette, West Lafayette, the county – love that way you talk and the way that you work on things together. I think people do appreciate that and they feel comfortable. So, there is not a huge call to try to do something different, because it's working. We've been able to demonstrate that every four-year cycle that we've been involved in. I don't take that for granted. I'm very appreciative of the support the community has shown me and that trust and that faith. I plan to give them 100% effort again, in this next term, if I'm fortunate enough to be re-elected. I'm still looking for a job, not a position.

Question: If you win this election, is there a run for a seventh term, do you think?

Tony Roswarski: Right now, I would say yes. I still feel great. I can see what's on the horizon and what there is still to get accomplished in the next four to eight years, with infrastructure and some of the significant things. We've annexed the Steele property (across Indiana 38 from the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant). We've annexed some other ground toward Dayton. And there's going to need to be some continuation – not so much of those, but to the south. And with LEAP, there are still a lot of difficult and challenging things to do.

I think I've demonstrated we’re willing to do the hard things. You know, when I became mayor, U.S. 52 was almost like a minefield, and I bit the bullet to take 3½ years to rebuild that road. That was not an easy task. Rebuilding Earl Avenue. Expanding the intersection of (Indiana) 26 and Creasy Lane, to get the Lafayette Pavilions built. I mean, I've taken on some of the tough stuff. Moving the Pearl River. Then 2008, at the start of the judicial agreement that said Lafayette had to reduce the number of combined-sewer overflows. We mined a tunnel underneath downtown that’s 3,200 feet long, 10-foot diameter, 30 feet under the ground. I think I've demonstrated that our team can take on not even just the everyday things but the difficult, out-of-the-ordinary challenges. There still will be those things presenting themselves going forward.

ABOUT THE NOV. 7 ELECTION

WHERE TO VOTE AHEAD OF NOV. 7: Here are the remaining voting times and sites set up between now and Monday, Nov. 6.. Voters should bring a valid ID.

• 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 1-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.

ON BALLOTS: Incumbents are noted with an asterisk. Candidate Q&As, when available, are linked to the name of the position on the ballot.

Lafayette

• Mayor: Tony Roswarski*, D; Benji Milanowski, Libertarian

• Clerk: Cindy Murray*, D.

• Council District 1: Jerry Reynolds*, R.

• Council District 2: Eileen Hession Weiss*, D; Mary Fisher, R.

• Council District 3: Perry Brown*, D.

• Council District 4: Lauren Ahlersmeyer*, D; Josiah Eller, Libertarian

• Council District 5: Melissa Weast Williamson*, D.

• Council District 6: Bob Downing*, D; Perry Barbee, R

• Council at-large (3 seats): Kevin Klinker*, D; Nancy Nargi*, D; Steve Snyder*, D.

West Lafayette

• Mayor: Erin Easter, D.

• Clerk: Sana Booker*, D.

• City Judge: Lori Sabol*, D.

• Council District 1: Aaron Abell, R; Laila Veidemanis, D.

• Council District 2: Michelle Dennis, D.

• Council District 3: Colin Lee*, D.

• Council District 4: Larry Leverenz*, D.

• Council District 5: Kathy Parker*, D; James Waters, R.

• Council District 6: Jeff Brown*, R; Stacey Baitinger Burr, D.

• Council at-large (3 seats): James Blanco*, D; Iris O’Donnell Bellisario, D; David Sanders*, D; Brian Russell, R; Patrick Flannelly, R.

West Lafayette Community School Corp.

Property tax referendum renewal question: “Shall West Lafayette Community School Corporation continue to impose increased property taxes paid to the school corporation by homeowners and businesses for eight (8) years immediately following the holding of the referendum for the purpose of retaining and attracting teachers and staff and funding academic programming and operating expenditures with the renewal of the current maximum referendum property tax rate of $0.37? The property tax increase requested in this referendum was originally approved by the voters in 2017 and if extended will increase the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence within the school corporation by 46.2% and if extended will increase the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business property within the school corporation by 41.8%.”

• Here's a link to a primer on the West Lafayette schools question, which would renew a property tax rate first approved in 2010 and again in 2017.

Dayton

• Town Council (choose five, all independent): Vickie Beavers, Marc Buhrmester*, Leah Copas, Ron Koehler*, Jen Manago*, Rocky Richards, Carla Snodgrass*, Joy Tischer

• Clerk-Treasurer: Bridget Cadwallader

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

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

Thanks to Purdue Musical Organizations, celebrating 90 years of the Purdue Christmas Show, Dec. 1-3 in Elliott Hall of Music. Get tickets for one of the four performances here.

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