Christopher Imel is seeking the Montgomery County Coroner position. The following Q&A was submitted by the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County. Other candidates in June’s primary election will be featured.
Name: Christopher Imel
Office sought: Montgomery County Coroner
Occupation: Hospitality management
Education: North Decatur High School; and University of Phoenix
Current experience and qualifications: Past deputy coroner for Bartholomew County; 18-plus years of business management experience at every level from small single location operations up to multi-unit with more than 300 employees reporting to me.
Community involvements: Firefighter for Ladoga Volunteer Fire Department; past deputy coroner, Bartholomew County Coroners Office; past elected – Flatrock Township Advisory Board/Secretary; past president of the board, Clifford Volunteer Fire Department; and past volunteer firefighter, Clifford Volunteer Fire Department, Columbus, Indiana
Party affiliation: Republican
What do you think is the most important issue facing Crawfordsville/Montgomery County in the next four years?
Getting back to a pre-COVID 19 economy will be the most important issue we will face. Not only getting the economy restimulated, but ensuring that we are prepared and able to withstand any future pandemics. We must work hard to make sure all Montgomery County residents have jobs when we come out of this. Not just the jobs they had before, but better jobs. Montgomery County has a strong backbone and I believe we will come out of this bigger and better, but it’s going to take all of us working together. As coroner, I will work with all county and city government offices to ensure we come out of this stronger than ever.
If elected, what would be your primary goal for the first year?
As with any business or organization I have taken over, my first step will be looking at the systems and processes in place, and addressing any that aren’t up to standard immediately. Building a team will be key to the success of my term in the office of coroner. One of the things I will also be making a priority is public knowledge of what the office does. I also feel strongly it is the role of the coroner’s office to help educate the public about any major health concerns alongside the health department. Continued education will be a top priority in the coroner’s office so we are prepared for properly handling pandemics like COVID-19 or any other major outbreaks in our future. Even before being elected, I am attending classes to better educate myself on dealing with pandemic outbreaks.
What professional experience do you have that is relevant to the office you seek, and what specific skills do you possess that make you qualified for the position?
I was a deputy coroner for Batholomew County. I am a compassionate person and believe every family needs answers on what happened to their loved one. I always treat each and every case with the attention I would want it to receive if it were my loved one. In addition, my background in business and management will help me grow and improve this position within the constraints of a budget.
An elected office provides the opportunity to proactively lead by placing new ideas on the agenda for consideration and development. What are some specific ideas you intend to pursue if elected? Please describe your priorities for this term in office and your specific qualifications to address those issues effectively.
With the pandemic, I will be working diligently to make sure we are even more ready for any outbreak that could happen in the future. I will also be ensuring we qualify for any and all federal funding and grants that are available. Resources and education are available through the Indiana State Coroners Association, and I am committed to being heavily involved in this organization.
What can Crawfordsville and Montgomery County do to reduce its carbon footprint?
Montgomery County has done great things with solar energy, we must continue to research and implement such carbon reduction measures. In addition, we need to continue the recycling program and bring more attention to such programs. As coroner, I will standardize measures to reduce waste and processes that are better for the environment.
What is the greatest concern that you hear from residents?
Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be the biggest topic. People are concerned about their jobs, safety and ability to recover financially. Every conversation I have with residents comes back to this topic.
All cities and counties face fiscal challenges, how would you address balancing the budget and the needs and wants of the community?
In the position of coroner, it will be crucial to utilize all funds in the budget with extreme caution. The number of deaths that need to be investigated is rising, especially in this pandemic. Being watchful of training offered by the state and other agencies can reduce costs. With my years of experience in business management, I am always looking closely at every line of a profit-and-loss and will do the same thing on my budget with Montgomery County.
What can Crawfordsville and Montgomery County do to encourage businesses to locate here?
Businesses will come to communities that have a workforce available. Making sure we are an attractive community to all generations will ensure people continue to live here. We as a community need to examine our business needs and seek out those companies to bring to Montgomery County. I also feel strongly that we need to be mindful of any tax breaks we give these prospected companies.
During and following the COVID-19 pandemic, what will you do, if elected, to help the recovery of our business community?
During this rebuilding phase, it is going to be crucial to support local businesses. Shopping local as much as possible should be a way of life in this new natural. Montgomery County is a great place to live and we are seeing this with the support of our small business community. As coroner, I will search local businesses for any items we purchase not only for use as coroner, but personally also.
