Waynedale Political Commentaries

Indiana is known as the “Crossroads of America,” and we do our best to make sure our transportation infrastructure lives up to the name.

Quality roadways help attract new businesses, grow our economy and keep our citizens safe as they travel through our communities and state. In 2016, the Indiana

Over the past 20 years, schools in the United States, including in Indiana, have seen an increase in shootings and other violence.

Just a few months ago, a shooting occurred at Noblesville West Middle School. Thanks to the exceptional bravery of a teacher there were no deaths, but this tragedy emphasized

Do you know an outstanding young person who will be in 10th – 12th grade this year and would like to be more engaged with the Fort Wayne community and local government? I’m seeking applicants for my Youth Engagement Council for the 2018-19 school year. The Council’s vision is to be a service

In December of 2017, Indiana’s Department of Child Services (DCS) made news headlines across the state when the agency’s ability to adequately protect Hoosier children was called into question.

To get a full understanding of the issues facing DCS, Gov. Eric Holcomb called for the Child Welfare

The 63rd basic recruit class of the Fort Wayne Police Department has graduated and they’ve become fully commissioned officers. The class is made up of 18 males and 3 females. These men and women have demonstrated a commitment to providing excellent public safety services for our City. Additional

Recently, I announced plans for Fort Wayne to become a TenPoint Coalition city. This is the next step in our Fort Wayne UNITED efforts to influence the lives of young people, families and neighborhoods by implementing proactive strategies to reduce violence and emphasize the importance of education,

I’ve been thinking lately about the Wayne Township Trustee Office mission statement which includes the idea that the Trustee’s office has a dual role of countering the effects of the cycle of poverty while maintaining careful guardianship of the taxpayers’ resources. We fulfill this role by

In our modern digital age, it seems that any piece of information, no matter how broad or specific, can be found with a quick Google search. More and more we find ourselves turning to the internet to look up the answers to our questions, but did you know that Indiana has been hard at work making information

Well the summer season is in full swing now. School is out, Germanfest is over, and soon the fireworks will begin for the Fourth of July and the Three Rivers Festival. As we do every year, the Wayne Township Trustee Office started our summer event season by participating in the Waynedale Memorial

There is no question that one of today’s major health concerns is the issue of mental health. As our society continues to understand how mental health conditions can affect individuals, families and communities, we also recognize the importance of addressing mental health issues as a matter of public

It was great to be in Waynedale recently at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Poka-Bache Connector. We’re fortunate to have a growing and thriving trails system that’s having a positive impact on Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana.

I recently launched a new website for Fort Wayne neighborhoods

Each year during the legislative session, members of the Indiana General Assembly conduct committee hearings, participate in debates and take part in discussions with constituents as we consider new laws that will address important issues facing Indiana.

However, throughout the session, lawmakers may

Earlier this spring a beloved local sports referee, Tom Knox, passed away and my thoughts were with his grandson, Austin Knox, who happens to be Chief Deputy Trustee here at Wayne Township. With Father’s Day coming I asked Austin for a few words about his grandfather, and this is what he wrote:

“’How’s

We’re continuing to experience positive momentum and growth in the City of Fort Wayne. A recent example is the Fort Wayne New Markets Revitalization Fund, LLC (FWNMRF) plans to invest in six projects located throughout northeast Indiana.

The Indiana General Assembly convened May 14 for a one-day special session called by the governor. During this time, my colleagues and I passed four time-sensitive bills that could not wait until the 2019 session. This legislation will add additional funding for school safety, update our tax code

As I look back over the last several years, I am struck by the changes that I have witnessed while doing the business of township assistance. In 2007, the early days of my administration, the Great Recession was just getting started, and it would become the worst economic situation since the Great

The City of Fort Wayne has a new director of the Community Development Division. I recently announced the promotion of Cindy Joyner.

Cindy has 16 years of experience in local government. Since 2008, she’s served as a deputy director in the Community Development Division overseeing the Neighborhood

The month of May brings us lots of good things to celebrate—sunshine, flowers, milder temperatures, the end of the school year and Mother’s Day. It’s also the month we here at Wayne Township begin reviewing the applications we receive for our two scholarships: Recognizing Achievement Scholarship

The Indiana General Assembly works diligently each year to implement policies that will help fill open jobs and encourage businesses to grow or locate in our state, and we continue to see positive results.

For example, our state’s unemployment rate has remained below the national average for four

During the 2017 session, the General Assembly passed a two-year budget, which included up to $7.04 billion for school funding, or about $5,956 per student, which was based on estimated enrollment numbers for the 2017-18 school year.

Over half of our General Fund is dedicated to K-12 education, but