Updated Oct 11, 2023   

Officers

2024 Republican Precinct Election – Committeemen 

• • Charlie Shaw, Hamblen 1
  • Mark Bowman Hamblen 2 (Chair)
  • Phil Stephens  Hamblen 3 (Hamblen Township Trustee, Director, Brown County Recycling.)
  • Deborah Goodrich, Jackson 1
  • Diana Biddle, Jackson 2,  (Replaced by Sandy Higgins).
  • Duane Parsons, Jackson 3,
  • Larry Gardner, Jackson 4,
  • Jim Kemp for Van Buren 1, (Councilman, Treasurer)
  • Ted Adams, Washington 1, (Prosecutor)
  • Theresa Cobian, for Washington 2 (Commissioner Assistant)
  • Washington 3 (vacant).

Disclosure: I register as a Republican in the primaries and do not always vote a straight party ticket. 

• • Comments from the Chair of Brown County Republican party on straight-ticket voting:  “Even as a party chairman, Bowman said he doesn’t like to see so many voters choosing the straight-party option. To him, that shows voters lack knowledge about the candidates. The choice listed from one’s own party isn’t always automatically the best choice for the job, he said.”  BCD GOP SWEEP Nov 14, 2018
  • Ref: 2018 County Election Results.

Vote County Interests in the 2024 Republican Primary – Cross-over Votes Needed

Precinct Chairs and Vice Chairs elect the local GOP Chair. This leadership group influences the selection of local candidates for offices and appointments. They also determine the direction of the county which includes a bias for development not supported by the community.

• • One of the strategies supporting development is the expansion of sewer service throughout the county. “Appointed” officials of the Brown County Regional Sewer District (BCRSD) Board contracted for the development of a “county-wide” wastewater strategic plan. This plan was funded with tax dollars at a cost of over $100K.  It was developed without any input from the public nor was it ever introduced at any public meetings. This plan led to a request for funding of over $50 million dollars. This overall strategy had/has the approval of the local GOP, commissioners, and council. Ref: BCRSD Sewer Expansion Project on “Trial” – For The Record 

Examples of non-partisan political platforms:  

• • 2024 County Elections – Non-partisan Platform – WIP
  • Nonpartisan Political Platform
  • 2023 County Govt Checklist – includes some topics that might indicate progress in some areas

Election Integrity

• • 2023_09_01 Brown County Paper – Voting Centers and political structure

Brown County  GOP

• • Facebook Page Brown County Indiana Republicans
  • Controversial post and conflict within the party – 2021.   Interesting insight and perspectives in Letters by party officials published in the Brown County Democrat.

County Boards and their Members – appointments by Commissioners and Council.  

Many (most) County offices – 2023 Brown County Connections Magazine – published by the Brown County Democrat

“Elephant” in the local GOP Room?  The core leadership in the party includes the Bowmans. The Bowmans are owners of a real estate company and have demonstrated a bias for development. I cannot recall being at any government meetings where they did not support any kind of development-related project.

• • The overall situation is reminiscent of the television series Yelllowstone starring Kevin Costner as John Dutton.  In the series, developers have identified how they can transition a beautiful landscape into a commercial mecca. They are being opposed by the Duttons who want to retain the beauty of the landscape and retain the rural culture. 
  • In Brown County, it is the residents who choose to live here or retire here that provide the major source of tax revenue.  Gentrification and a Gatlinburg-Lite may be the desired future of some but certainly not the majority.  For instance, tourism accounts for about 12 million in taxable wages. The total taxable wages in the county from all residents is over 424 million.  Brown County is considered a naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) and by Ball State economists as a “bedroom community” e.g., people choose to live here but generate their income outside the county.   
  • “What is that one thing?”  – Quality of Life

Officers – Pre-May Primary
Any other county positions in parentheses

• • Mark Bowman, Chair
  • Deborah Noe, Vice Chair
  • New: Melissa (Stinson) Waddell, Secretary  and County Commissioner Assistant
  • Julia Reeves, Treasurer (Auditor)

•  Precinct chairs and Vice Chairs
  Any other county positions in parentheses

• • Hamblen 1: Cynthia Rose Wolpert  (Health Board) / Blake Wolpert (commissioner as of May 2023)
  • Hamblen 2: Mark Bowman (local GOP Chair)/ Tanner Bowman (former paid county intern)
  • Hamblen 3: Phil Stephens (Director, Recycling Center)  / Deborah Noe
  • Jackson 1: Deborah Goodrich / Darren Byrd (councilman)
  • Jackson 2: Diana McDonald Biddle (former commissioner) / Scott Rudd (councilman)
  • Jackson 3: Sandy Higgins (Jackson Township Trustee) / Jamie Voils
  • Jackson 4: Larry Gardner / Herb Ross
  • Washington 1: Dave Redding (councilman) / Keith Baker
  • Washington 2: Mike Magner (Highway Superintendant) / Brandon Magner (Washington Township Trustee)
  • Washington 3: Ted Adams (Prosecutor) / Robyn Rosenberg Bowman (PTABOA Board, Maple Leaf (Music Center) Building Corp board member)
  • Van Buren: Ben Phillips  (Brown County Water Board member) / Brad Stogsdill (Sheriff)

Monopoly on Power.  Brown County has a one-party monopoly on political power.  The surveyor is the only office held by a non-GOP candidate. Centralization of power is never a good thing and leads to moral corruption and an abuse of power.

A monopoly also represents a “closed system” where input from those outside the system can be ignored and where the few can dictate the solutions for the many.  A closed system is the least effective. The antidotes include transparency which would include at a minimum, complying with open meeting laws and posting meeting agendas, minutes, and audio of government meetings.

• • Blake Wolpert was elected to Commissioner on a 7 to 4 vote by Precinct Chairs on May 25, 2023. Republican Party caucus met to replace Commissioner Chuck Braden. Braden was not able to serve out his term.
    • Wolpert was elected commissioner in 2004. During his tenure, Commissioners created Fire Districts that were opposed by the VFDs and others.  Legal action was taken to reverse the decision that required intervention by the Indiana Supreme Court. 
  • One of the first actions taken by Commissioner Wolpert was to add a new full-time commissioner assistant position.  This action led to significant challenges and criticisms but was eventually approved.   A contract was developed to provide assistance pending a selection for the vacancy. More info at the following post: County Operations and Assessments
  • Beginning with the March 23, 2022, meeting, Commissioners, with the support of the local GOP leadership, attempted to establish a policy restricting citizen questions at meetings. This decision was ignored by the citizens, and the policy was revoked by the commissioners.

Research on Candidates and Issues – Brown County Democrat Archives.  The archives for the Brown County Democrat can be accessed at the Library. 

Historical Election Results – General Election and Primaries

Examples – Election Forms – including for precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate

GOP Party Documents – State Party Rules 

2022 Convention Delegates:

2022 Convention Delegates – Mark Bowman, Cindi Wolpert, Blake Wolpert, Ben Phillips, Robyn Rosenberg Bowman (replacement for Chad Williams), Tanner Bowman (replacement for Diana Biddle.

There are 11 Precincts in the county –May 2020 Primary Election Results (Election winners received an average of 188 votes – from 58 (lowest) to 233 (highest). 

Brown County Democrat: ELECTION 2022: Early voting times, Election Day polling places 

Brown County Precinct Map – Source https://brownin.wthgis.com/ 

Indiana Republican Party –  Precinct-Committeemen-Handbook-Final – 2020 (34 pages)

• • “Voters in the May Primary elect precinct committeemen”
  • When you became a Republican Precinct Committeeman/woman, you took on a vital leadership role to advance Republican principles of:
    • Lower taxes, Smaller government, Fiscal responsibility, Individual freedom, Strong national defense, Job creation, Family values

Other

Liberty Defense: We promote safeguarding your freedoms and preserving traditional family values. We defend all Indiana residents by keeping a watchful eye on those who represent you at the Statehouse.

• • Liberty Defense Precinct Project – RINO Rating and Reporting
  • Indiana PC (Precinct) Project – “Learn about the MOST POWERFUL role in politics!
  • Presentation of Party Roles and Responsibilities Edited GS 030723

2023-Candidate-Guide.Final  – Timelines and Forms

Indems-Precinct-Committeeperson-Handbook-2021-1