Bruce Symes says hes grateful for the time hes spent campaigning as the Republican nominee for Allen County Commission.
Ive met wonderful people, in the course of going door to door, house to house, to hear what people say are their top concerns for the county.
Symes began actively campaigning in April for the Republican nomination for the 2nd District seat. Symes came out ahead against John Brocker in the August primary. Brocker had been appointed to the position a few months earlier to fill in for Jim Talkington, who had resigned.
In the last several weeks. Brocker has launched a write-in campaign against Symes and Democrat Stephen Henderson.
While Symes says he welcomes all-comers to the race, he takes issues with Brockers accusation in a campaign flyer that as someone who currently does not own a home he has no vested interests in Allen County.
If it makes any difference which Symes inherently disputes Symes has owned three different homes in the 32 years hes lived in Iola. That he currently rents, he said, should not reflect on his commitment to serve.
I certainly understand the dynamics of taxes and property taxes, he said. And I may very well be a property owner again. But being a renter does not preclude someone from making thoughtful decisions with character and integrity. I have the good fortune of all of Allen County in mind.
SYMES continues to attend county commission meetings on a weekly basis, and has made other meetings when his schedule allows. Symes is director of the writing center at Allen Community College as well as advisor for its student newspaper.
Hes also made a point of meeting with individual county department heads to learn of their responsibilities as well as their hopes and concerns.
Theres always going to be a learning curve, if elected, Symes said, but Im trying to get as much information under my belt now as I can.
From those conversations, Symes said he has learned that the flow of communication between department heads and county commissioners, could be improved.
Being more in the loop could help commissioners better deal with the public, Symes said.
Say a constituent called about a county road that needs repairing. If a commissioner knew the repair schedule, he could ease their concern by telling them its next in line for grading, or whatever.
