Democratic candidate wants to focus on the economic development of Muncieby Jessica Husek
Democratic mayoral candidate Jim Mansfield says he wants to focus on the needs of the entire Muncie community.
Mansfield said this is his first year running for the position of mayor.
A Muncie native, Mansfield serves as the executive director of the Muncie Visitors Center for six years, he said.
He earned an associate's degree at a technical school before attending Ball State University, but family obligations prevented him from finishing his general business degree, he said.
When Mansfield came to Ball State in September to speak at the Political Speaker Series he said he decided to run for mayor because he saw the good times of Muncie, but he also saw some difficult times.
"I think we can bring it back to the glory days of the past."
One issue Mansfield considers important is economic development, he said.
"The industrial base of this town has left and won't be coming back anytime soon," he said. "We need to bring businesses in the fields of technology and bioscience. With those businesses will come jobs for the members of this community."
Mansfield also plans to fill the need for better sidewalks and water drains in order to keep the city in good condition and to improve the quality of the local fire and police departments, he said.
To achieve these goals, Mansfield proposes filling potholes, repaving sidewalks, implementing a more effective sewage system and hiring sound professionals in public safety departments, he said.
Bridging the divide between the Muncie community and Ball State is also part of the plan, Mansfield said.
"I want to collaborate more with the university," he said. "We need to utilize the talents and perspectives of the students, faculty and staff to help keep the community moving forward."
City maintenanceMansfield plans to fill the need for better sidewalks and water drains in order to keep the city in good condition, he said. He proposes filling potholes, repaving sidewalks and implementing a more effective sewage system.
Fire and police department qualityMansfield said he wants to improve the quality of the local fire and police departments by hiring sound professionals in public safety departments.
Bringing jobs to MuncieOne issue Mansfield considers important is economic development, he said."The industrial base of this town has left and won't be coming back anytime soon," he said. "We need to bring businesses in the fields of technology and bioscience. With those business will come jobs for the members of this community."
Candidate's experience as property owner gives insight into tax issueby Keenan Wilson
Sharon McShurley sees a bright future for the Muncie community, she said, a future she believes she can help usher in if she is elected mayor as the Republican candidate in today's election.
She is an Anderson native and after graduating Highland High School, McShurley said, she attended Indiana University where she received her associate's degree in general studies. Later, McShurley said, she attended Ball State University, where she received her bachelor's degree in marketing.
McShurley said she has lived in Muncie for 20 years where she raises her family and earns a living. She and her husband have a rental business, where they own several properties around the city, including two near campus.
She said her experiences as a property owner gave her insight into some of the major issues in today's election, such as property taxes. She also was a Ball State employee for 10 years, giving her a perspective into university life, she said.
McShurley's Web site said she worked as Yorktown town court clerk from 2002 to 2007. McShurley said she quit that job to pursue her goal of becoming mayor, a decision she said her family supported.
"I gave up an income to do this ... [my husband and I] get to see each other for five minutes in the morning and five at night," she said. "Without his support, I could never have done this."
McShurley said she has two children and two step-children. She said her children have been very supportive of her, but that she has not pushed for their involvement.
"I don't want someone to approach them 20 years down the road to help serve a community, and them to say 'Nuh-uh, my mom ran for mayor, and I don't want to deal with that,'" she said.
McShurley said other people approached her to run, but she had her own reasons for running.
"I wasn't happy with the options," she said. "I wanted people to have an option they could be happy with."
City maintenanceMuncie's infrastructure is in need of drastic repairs, McShurley said. She wants to repair not only roads and sidewalks, but also clean up the blight of the community, such as old abandoned houses.
Property taxesHigh property taxes have forced some Muncie residents out of their homes, and others are barley managing to hang on, McShurley said. She wants to implement a complete overhaul of the city bureaucracy, looking at who does what and if what they do can be done more efficiently.
Bringing jobs to MuncieMcShurley wants to bring in new industries to the city, especially jobs that will help to keep Ball State graduates in the Muncie work force, she said."We need to look where the future is going, in the bio-health and technology fields," she said.
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