What makes you the most qualified candidate for the job?
Experience. My six years on the county council and four years as commissioner has giving me the real-time experience needed to continue to lead our county in the right direction. I have worked hard in my position and am delivering results. Under my leadership, we have improved our roads, we have solved the jail overcrowding issue, we have brought millions of dollars to the county in economic development and job creation. There is a lot more to do, and I’m ready on day one to continue our county down the right path.
What is the most important issue facing Hancock County?
I believe the most important issue today is the COVID-19 crisis. It is not just the medical impact, but the economic impact that is so concerning. I have worked daily coordinating the county’s response with county departments and the hospital officials. We took quick, proactive steps to mitigate the effect of the virus and have been successful in limiting its impact in our county. I will work diligently to lessen the negative economic impact as well. I will work to get our local economy back on track, get people back to work, and make sure we provide the mental health resources that will be required to recover from this crisis.
How can the county government ensure that the businesses and housing developments being constructed in the county meet the needs of a growing population?
I believe that government’s role is to provide public safety and an economic climate that encourages growth and investment. When a community is safe and small businesses are able to thrive then quality housing follows and the very best companies with the best-paying jobs will naturally want to locate here. I will continue to focus on investing in our public safety, economic development and infrastructure that further those goals and make Hancock County a place where businesses want to locate and families want to live.
Other than the new jail, what do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects?
There are many pressing infrastructure needs in the county. While completing the jail and sheriff’s administration building will continue to be one of my top priorities, I will also be focused on updating county facilities to meet the needs of other county departments including probation, the prosecutor’s office and community corrections. We need to continue the improved maintenance on our existing roads while completing capital road projects in the Mt. Comfort Road Corridor. I also believe it is time to work toward a new interchange on I-70 on the east side of the county.
What factors would you use to determine whether a company should be granted a tax abatement?
Property tax abatement decisions lie solely with the county council as the county fiscal body. I will continue to work with the council and Economic Development Director and give input as to what our criteria should be for companies seeking abatement. For myself, factors that go in to that are the size of the investment being made by the applying company, the potential impact to police and fire agencies, and the number and quality of jobs being located here. Abatement is an essential tool to attract new business investment, but should only be given to those companies that meet set standards.
What is your assessment of how the county has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic?
I believe the county has responded to the crisis very effectively. We are very fortunate to have the highest-quality people in key response roles and amazing community partners. Working with Hancock Health and first-responders we took early steps to slow the spread and flattened the curve quickly. Cooperation from residents and a very effective response from our COVID-19 task force has made Hancock County stand out in central Indiana as a model of how to respond to such a crisis. I am very proud of our county response and am actively working with that same task force to see how we move toward re-opening our local economy and getting things back to normal as best as is possible.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”John Jessup” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 44
Party: Republican
Office sought: County commissioner, District 1
Political experience: One term as commissioner, two terms on county council
Family: Wife, Paula, four children, two stepchildren, two grandchildren
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