The Delaware County municipal elections are coming close, and the same issues being brought up on a national level are just as much of a problem locally.
The election will be on Tuesday, and the issues the mayoral candidates are focusing on are the economy and jobs.
Democratic candidate Dennis Tyler said there are around 4,000 abandoned homes in Muncie. He said it is depressing to think that these homes once housed happy families.
"Blight is what it is," Tyler said. "The sad part about it is, the abandoned homes weren't abandoned at one time."
Mayor Sharon McShurley said she has worked on blight around Muncie by tearing down 400 abandoned properties and paving 70 miles of roads. She said Muncie has a long way to go, but if re-elected, she said she will continue to make Muncie neighborhoods more attractive.
"There's never enough," McShurley said. "There's lots to do. We have a lot of catching up to do. We haven't caught up yet, but we will continue our efforts."
Tyler said he would like to see the lots where abandoned homes once stood turned into mini parks or green spaces for the neighborhood to use as they wish.
In 2009, 32 firefighters were laid off, according to the Muncie Star Press. McShurley said it was a result of budget cuts, but that she is bringing back 25 firefighters.
Tyler said those firefighters were hired because of the Staffing For Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant, which will run out in August 2012. He said if they reapply for the SAFER grant and their request is denied, a lot of tough decisions will have to be made. He said he would talk with community leaders to see what kind of adequate public safety staffing is needed.
McShurley also said she has a plan if their application for the SAFER grant is denied. She said she will bring in professionals to do a study on how many public safety officials are needed in Muncie and how to save money in that department.
McShurley recently announced that Muncie has a $3.8 million dollar surplus, which she would use to give a $1,000 bonus to non-elected officials to show her appreciation for the sacrifices they make, according to an article from the Star Press.
Tyler said he believes the surplus is a fabrication and would like to see documentation showing where the money came from.
"I still haven't seen where the money's at," he said. "To me, it's almost as fuzzy a math as she uses when she talks about job creation."
McShurley could not be reached for comment.
As far as job creation in Muncie, Tyler said he believes that Progress Rail, a new locomotive manufacturing company in Muncie, is doing a great job with hiring.
"If we're creating jobs and we're creating an idea of investing in our community, you'll see the blight begin to be alleviated because we'll be filling those areas with active, live people again that will want to be a part of the neighborhood," Tyler said.
Progress Rail is one thing both candidates can agree is improving the community.
If elected, Tyler's goal for the company is to make sure they are hiring as many Muncie citizens as possible. He said that he strongly influenced Progress Rail coming to Muncie.
Tyler said a community can apply for a building to become a Community Revitalization Economic Enhancement District. If a building was once a manufacturing facility and now has significantly less or no employees, it is up for $1 million in order to create jobs. Tyler said he created the bill which made the former Westinghouse/ABB facility the building that now houses Progress Rail.
If elected, Tyler said he hopes to bring in as much community and student participation as possible into his decision making.
"When everyone feels that they have a role ... at least a role of being a part of the community, I think everyone begins to feel a lot better about their community," he said. "I intend to do that."
McShurley said if she is re-elected, her plans consist of continuing the progress she has made in Muncie.
"We will continue to do more with less," she said.
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