An open letter to the voters of Noblesville, Jackson, Wayne, and White River townships
Submitted
Hall
I thoroughly enjoy the conversations with neighbors during this campaign process. Being a candidate for public office is a lot like being a show cow in 4-H at the fairgrounds. How do you convince the judges to minimize the imperfections and see what is good? Generally speaking, you don’t. People are smart and they see through the fog and figure out what’s up and why people do what they do.
With that, I am telling you right up front that I will make mistakes. While I am qualified for the job that I’d like you to hire me for, I am far from perfect. My mistakes will be mistakes of omission, not commission.
I am honored to have dozens of endorsements from local elected officials, business owners, servers, chefs, lawyers, tradespeople, police officers, firefighters, and pastors. We publish many of these folks’ names and many have asked to remain anonymous. I am supported by regular folks like myself, and by executives too. The common theme from them is that change is needed, and in this case change is good.
Those in government too long now serve government, not the people.
Interestingly, you know who I am not supported by – those whose budget I’d oversee. I am not supported by those who donate perpetually to keep the same faces in needed budgetary voting positions. This would be the time to ask yourself a question: If everything is wonderful in county government, why fight so hard against new eyes and fresh oversight? If it is all great, new eyes will verify that, right? Actions scream, words do not. We all know about the $42 million in cost overrun on the State Road 37 project. Are we worried that there is more coming?
The attributes and actions cited by the Commissioners in their collective endorsement of my opponent are basic and the minimum expectations for the position. The reality is that independent oversight has long since gone away. My opponent votes for the Commissioners’ projects without question or hesitation. Of course, they want that to continue. Their spending is not threatened or subject to actual deep scrutiny.
At last night’s County Council meeting, an additional 12 million of our tax dollars were approved, voted for by my opponent, to cover more of the $42 million cost overrun on State Road 37. It doesn’t surprise anyone that the Commissioners endorse that behavior.
Please know if you cast your ballot for me, no one will represent you with more passion, devotion, or servants’ heart than I will. Ask anyone who really knows me. Thank you for taking the time to read about who and what I am.
I live conservative values. I am pro-God, pro-gun, pro-life, pro-term limits, pro-free speech, and pro-liberty. I am against government mandates and believe that the government exists to serve the people, not the other way around.
I will demonstrate fiscally conservative values on the council.
I will work cooperatively with fellow council members and the commissioners to get things done.
I will represent the voters first and not compromise conservative principles.
I will lose on issues with grace.
I will win on issues with grace.
I will not take donations from the commissioners as I believe it to be a direct conflict of interest.
I will not take donations from vendors or want-to-be vendors to the county as I believe it is a direct conflict of interest.
I will not accept perks from vendors or want-to-be vendors to the county including but not limited to golf outings, meals, and fishing trips as I believe these are direct conflicts of interest and obviously intended to sway opinions.
I will offer office hours and town hall meetings for citizens to have actual access to an elected official for questions, to voice concerns and raise issues.
I have self-imposed a two-term limit on my service to the community.
I am self-funding the vast majority of my campaign to ensure independent oversight for you, the taxpayer who pays the bills.
My qualifications
I was raised in a Union Democrat home but became a product of the Republican platform. I’ve started dozens of businesses, closing many and succeeding with a few. The best lessons in my life came from my failures. Living here in Noblesville for 35 years, operating my businesses here, running a local charity and raising my family here, I know firsthand the fabric of our communities. I work side by side with dozens of volunteers serving those in need right here in Hamilton County.
As a business leader, I negotiate seven-figure deals in finance, technology, and construction. As an employer I have made a payroll every Friday for the last 1,500 Fridays. That success requires finance, budgeting, benefits, and employment expertise. We employ hundreds of people in construction, manufacturing, engineering, and information technology. Have we been in our share of scraps along the way? Absolutely we have. That is an unfortunate consequence of employing tens of thousands of people over three decades – not all of them do what they say that they will. Those experiences have taught me what to do to avoid legal consequences when representing the taxpayers.
As the founder and CEO, I have to be skilled in insurance, planning, risk management, contracts, negotiations, legal issues, banking and customer service. These same skills are all required to oversee the spend of your county tax dollars.
My platform is straight-forward. My qualifications as a conservative community and business leader are, too. I was born a common man and I’ll die a common man. In between those two events I am called to serve others as best I can.
There you have it, who I am and what I stand for.
To our many supporters, thank you for your votes. To those undecideds, I welcome your questions and respectfully ask for your votes.
Now, it’s your call if I get a 4-H ribbon for showing well or not. Thank you.
Mark F. Hall is a candidate for Hamilton County Council, District 3. You can contact him at (317) 832-1104, or by visiting markfhall.com.