Position Papers

Abell on GAGE

I am opposed to continued payments ($150,000 in 2011 county budget) to GAGE (Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville). The mission statement for this organization states, “…core mission of cultivating an environment in which businesses thrive and jobs are created.” GAGE has not met this mission but has, instead, spent resources putting on street festivals and a failed Freedom Festival. In addition, a recent audit by the State Board of Accounts found that GAGE had paid a salary to a city employee out of GAGE funds, a practice the State Board said was improper. This is the type of wasteful spending that should be stopped in Vanderburgh County.

Abell on the Executive Inn

I have been and continue to be critical of the lack of involvement by the Democrat-controlled County Commissioners in this city project. My opponent should have been meeting with the Democratic mayor from the beginning to protect the county’s interest in this situation because of the relationship between the arena, the Executive Inn and The Centre. With the loss of the Executive Inn and no new hotel, it is impossible for The Centre to attract conventions. Across the state and country, the successful convention centers have hotels attached where attendees can stay without a drive to nearby or distant hotels. The Centre is a $40 million investment by the county with a $2 million bridge to an empty, half-torn-down hotel. This is another example of wasteful spending that should not have happened in Vanderburgh County.

Abell on Roberts Stadium

I am opposed to using money from Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) funds to demolish Roberts Stadium. Roberts Stadium is a city facility and the city should have planned for the cost of its demolition when budgeting for construction of the new arena. To use CVB funds in this way is a bailout for the City of Evansville and the mayor. I will not waste county money on city projects.

Abell on Wesselman Park

I am opposed to declaring this area a Recovery Zone so that Recovery Zone Bonds can be issued. The Department of Commerce defines a Recovery Zone as, “…an area having significant poverty, unemployment, home foreclosures or general distress…” This declaration would adversely affect nearby neighborhoods. No one can honestly say that being near a Recovery Zone increases home values.

Abell on Economic Development

I believe economic development is based on a community making itself attractive for businesses to locate and grow. Businesses do not locate in areas that are heavily in debt and lack a skilled labor force. We have a highly skilled labor force to accommodate any industry need. As elected officials we must, however, carefully watch our bonding capacity and spending habits. To have a healthy economic climate, elected officials must eliminate wasteful spending and spend money carefully on projects that will produce the best result for the investment.

Abell on Industrial Park

I am in favor of aggressively looking for additional space for an industrial park to meet the future needs of businesses that want to locate in our community. Having “build ready” land with utilities and roadways in place allows economic development groups, such as the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, to aggressively pursue business for location in our area.

Abell on 2009 Homestead Tax Credit Exemption

During city budget hearings in 2008, the city failed to go through proper channels regarding a homestead tax credit exemption and as a result the proposed exemption was not submitted to the Vanderburgh County Council for consideration. State statute prohibits anyone but the city from acting on a homestead tax exemption and though the city moved forward to eliminate the exemption for 2009, this was done improperly. Through action by the Governor of the State of Indiana, the exemption was reinstated and no homeowner lost the exemption. This is an ongoing issue because the city offered no private vote on the exemption before eliminating it for 2009, nor was the county ever given the opportunity to vote on it. The decision was solely that of city administration, which sought no outside input before going forward with their decision.

Abell on Extension of University Parkway

am solidly behind efforts to continue the extension of University Parkway on the county’s far west side. Because this highway would eventually connect to Interstate 64, its extension would create another important economic development tool for the county. It also would improve traffic flow for students, faculty, family and visitors at the University of Southern Indiana. The University Parkway expansion project has begun and as commissioner I will aggressively look to the State for assistance in continuing work on this much-needed roadway.

Abell on County Smoking Ordinance

I would join County Commissioner Winnecke’s position on a smoke free ordinance. Published reports from the Department of Commerce indicate that businesses prefer to locate in municipalities that provide a smoke free environment. Statistics show that non-smoking employees enjoy better health and are more productive than others. Even if this is not considered a health issue, it is surely an economic development issue that needs to be put into place for Vanderburgh County to prosper.

Abell on Family Values

As a Catholic, I am opposed to abortion on demand and hold all life to be sacred. I enjoy a large extended family with my husband of 18 years and also the children of my late husband. I strongly support community events that are family-oriented and feel Vanderburgh County is very much a pro family community.

Abell on Consolidation

I support efforts to put the possibility of consolidation on the ballot for residents to decide for themselves what form of government they prefer. This should appear on the 2012 ballot because 2012 will be a county election year. Placing the consolidation vote during a city election year would prevent county residents from voting on this issue and leave them with nothing to vote on except the referendum. I am in favor of consolidation of government agencies that duplicate efforts and cause wasteful spending in both city and county. I favor a method for county residents to be allowed a voice in issues that concern them. Currently they do not get the opportunity to vote on such issues as utility board sewer rates and the homestead tax credit because both of these issues rest solely within city government. I am against changing the lifestyle of county residents and feel they should continue to live the type life that county residence affords them. I am in favor of threshold rejection -- which evens the playing field, based on population, between voters in the county and the city. To not allow a threshold rejection would be unfair to the county because the city’s population outnumbers that of the county. This issue continues to need much discussion.