CARL BAXMEYER

Carl believes taxpayers should be able to see where their money is going — and expect county leaders to spend it responsibly. During Carl's tenure, St. Joseph County helped deliver approximately $2.7 million in property-tax savings to more than 9,700 seniors while new commercial investment has helped broaden the county's tax base.

Carl will continue working to protect homeowners, demand value from public spending, and ensure major corporations and new development contribute their fair share toward the services and infrastructure our county needs.

Carl believes St. Joseph County can be both pro-growth and pro-taxpayer. Major investments from companies including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and GM/Samsung have created new economic opportunities and thousands of jobs. But projects of this size also bring legitimate questions about roads, utilities, water, drainage, emergency services, taxes, and their long-term impact on surrounding communities.

Carl believes residents deserve clear answers. His Taxpayer-First Growth Standard would establish a higher standard for major economic development projects — with transparent terms, measurable public benefits, enforceable commitments, and ongoing accountability. Good development should strengthen St. Joseph County. And good companies should be willing to put their promises in writing.

Good roads aren't a luxury. They affect families, first responders, employers, school transportation, and nearly every part of daily life. St. Joseph County has invested more than $6.5 million to repave more than 28 miles of county roads, while also completing key highway garage upgrades and adding new salt-storage and fueling facilities.

Carl believes responsible county government plans ahead instead of waiting for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to fail. He'll continue prioritizing road conditions, long-term infrastructure planning, and making sure new development helps support the infrastructure demands it creates.

Families deserve to feel safe — and first responders deserve county government that gives them the tools and planning they need to do their jobs. Carl has supported upgrades to St. Joseph County's emergency siren system, improvements to 911 dispatcher operations that reduced mandatory overtime by approximately 6,000 hours, and completion of emergency-management and hazard-mitigation planning.

Carl will continue supporting strong emergency preparedness, effective public-safety services, and cooperation across local government.