Summer Kiefer Ervin
• Name and position you are seeking: Summer Kiefer Ervin, County Council At-large
• Campaign address, telephone, email, and website: Summer Ervin For County Council, 630 N. Forest Road, Crawfordsville, IN 47933; 765-376-5459; VoteForSummer.org; Summer.ervin@voteforsummer.org
• Current residence: Crawfordsville
• Community involvement: Co-chair of Women in Network; member of League of Women Voters; volunteer at Montgomery County Free Clinic
• Party affiliation: Democrat
Education/Profession:
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Purdue University; Master of Public Health from ATSU • Occupation, current political office (if applicable): Database developer for a nonprofit contract research organization that specializes in oncology clinical trials
Position statement 1:
• What specific experiences and skills qualify you to be a council member? I have been involved in the development of department budgets and various project budgets during my professional career. Also, my experience in healthcare has taught me how to prioritize needs, be efficient in my workflow, and be flexible and ready to respond to ever-changing situations.
Position statement 2:
• What are your top priorities as a council member if you are elected? My top priority is the people of Montgomery County and their quality of life. To me, this means promoting the health and growth of this community by supporting economic development, while at the same time protecting our natural resources and the rural small-town life we all love.
Position statement 3:
• What actions can the council take to create a budget to better utilize taxpayer money? The effects from COVID-19 will reduce our tax base and it will be important to prioritize needs by communicating and working closely with the various county departments. The council can also seek out new means of funding for projects and encourage the use of local businesses to complete jobs.
Position statement 4:
• What can Crawfordsville and Montgomery County do to encourage businesses to locate here? Businesses like to minimize their risks. To be competitive and attractive to new business, the county needs to be proactive in thinking about what these risks are and how to mitigate them. We can do this in a couple of ways, by making sure we have the necessary infrastructure already in place, by having a skilled workforce, and, in some cases, the use of incentives, such as abatements. Continuing to develop the Nucor corridor, building new quality housing, and getting broadband to all areas in the county are three specific things that will help. In addition, for Crawfordsville, the development of a truck route to help guide semi traffic around the downtown is needed. This would help create a more calming and inviting atmosphere for people to enjoy the businesses downtown.
Position statement 5:
• What is the greatest concern that you hear from local citizens? COVID-19 and getting back to normal, taxes and the need for better paying jobs.