Bolte, Blessinger seeking to represent Huntingburg Precinct 4 on council
Early voting in the 2023 Municipal Election is underway in Dubois County, and we are publishing a series of Q&As with candidates in the contested seats. Voting information is included below.
Huntingburg Common Council Precinct 4 Representative José Dubon is not seeking reelection for the seat. Seeking to fill the vacancy are Republican Pam Bolte and Independent Kerry Blessinger.
The fourth precinct encompasses the northeast area of the City of Huntingburg, bordered on the west side by U.S. 231 and Fourth Street in the south. The district is shaded blue/purple on the map below.
The Huntingburg Common Council serves as the legislative and fiscal body for city government.
As the legislative body, the council has the responsibility of passing or changing ordinances, resolutions, orders, and motions for the city’s government. As the fiscal body, the council has the authority to levy certain taxes, and it has the sole responsibility of adopting a city budget each year. The council also appoints members to certain boards and commissions that serve the community and county in various areas.
Here are the questions we submitted to Mr. Blessinger and Mrs. Bolte. Their answers appear below their names for each question.
What do you bring to the position in regard to experience that will be of benefit to the people or the City of Huntingburg?
Pam Bolte
I graduated from Indiana State University in 2005 with a double major in Accounting and Finance. I have been working for the accounting firm of Dauby, O’Connor and Zaleski, LLC for the past 18 years. Our firm specializes in the affordable housing industry, assisting our clients with consulting, developing, as well as audit and tax engagements. Throughout that time, I have gained knowledge and experience working with regulatory agencies as well as expanding my knowledge of the low-income housing industry.
I enjoy working with others and being involved in my community. I am currently serving on the Teen Outback board. I am also very active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church as a member of the Parish Council, Chairperson of the Parish Picnic Committee, President of the Ladies Sodality as well as many other ministries. I also serve on the Huntingburg Elementary PTO as the chairperson of the Fun Run Fundraiser and have served in the past as a coach and dugout mom for my children’s various teams throughout the years.
Kerry Blessinger
I have served four years on the Huntingburg City Council, and I am currently sitting on the Board of Public Works. I am a member of the Dubois County Sheriff’s Merit Board. I have experience doing budgets, not only through the city but also handling the budgets for two Dubois County Townships.
What issues are you passionate about addressing or bringing forward if elected to the council?
Kerry Blessinger
Public Safety is a major concern. I would like to see the city continue to support our police and fire departments. Streets are a very important topic, I would like to have more streets and sidewalks repaired.
Pam Bolte
My initial goal, which is still one of my main goals for my district, is adding sidewalks, starting with the most heavily traveled streets. I look out my kitchen window nearly every day to see people, many times women with their young children and bags of groceries, walking down our very busy and narrow street because there are no sidewalks. As I have been more involved in attending council meetings over the past few months, I realized that there is a fund for new sidewalks. I want to be the advocate for our district to make sure that some of those funds are used for the sidewalks that we desperately need as we create a city plan for new sidewalks throughout the city.
As I have talked with residents over the past months, I have realized that we also have issues with rental properties that are in disrepair and being neglected by landlords. I would like to work to create and enforce stricter ordinances for landlords to provide safe housing for their tenants.
Do you have thoughts on how the city should handle the Maple Park School property?
Pam Bolte
This is such a special and unique piece of property that I think community input will be very important, and I would like to see several options presented before making a final decision. In talking with members of the community, I have heard a few suggestions. One was to expand A Kids’s Place to provide much-needed before and after-school care for school-age children. Another suggestion was housing.
Ideally, if housing is the option that is chosen, it would be housing that fits in with the houses in the existing neighborhood. I think that property has a lot of potential, and I am excited to see what the future holds.
Kerry Blessinger
This is something that I would definitely like to have public input. Housing has been mentioned for this land, but I am sure there will be a lot of good ideas suggested for this property.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making processes?
Kerry Blessinger
I would like to see more residents attend meetings and voice their ideas and concerns. Also, possibly have a quarterly neighborhood meeting.
Pam Bolte
I have always felt that it is very important to be involved in my community and through that involvement, I enjoy interacting and talking with community members. Speaking to members of our community about things that we love about our city as well as changes that we would like to see made is what inspired me to run for city council. If elected, I plan to continue to be involved within the community, interacting with my neighbors and providing an open door policy for anyone with issues within the city.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for the city any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
Pam Bolte
If I received a grant for $1 million, I would allocate a portion of the money to completing the senior center. I am an active member at the Teen Outback, and I see how important it is for the kids to have a place to call their own to spend time, and I think that our seniors deserve the same. Another portion of the grant would be allocated to creating more sidewalks as well as repairing roads and sidewalks that are in disrepair. I would also allocate a portion of the funds to our parks department to finish the baseball and softball fields project.
Kerry Blessinger
Definitely use some to improve streets and sidewalks and continue to improve our existing parks. Continue to support police and fire with upgraded equipment.
What neighborhood do you live in? Why? Where are your favorite places to spend time in our town?
Kerry Blessinger
I live in Precinct 4, no reason why, it’s just where we bought our house. The main city park is a favorite hangout, I have lunch there three to four times a week when the weather permits.
Pam Bolte
We live on the Northeast side of the city in District 4. When my husband and I decided to move back home from Indianapolis, we each made a list of what we wanted in a house. We combined the lists, and our current house had all the items on our list. Since moving back, we have put a lot of love and work into the house to make it into the home that it is today. I really love spending time in our parks with my family. All four of my children played either softball or baseball this year. It was so nice to have all the fields together in one park. We also enjoy spending time on the walking trails at Niehaus Park, and my husband can often be found fishing on Huntingburg Lake on Sunday afternoons.
We enjoy spending time in Downtown Huntingburg for events from 4th Fridays to Haunted Huntingburg to strolls for every season. For such a small community, we have so many great things happening, and I want to see that momentum continue. I am so proud to call Huntingburg my home.
Why should voters choose you?
Pam Bolte
I can offer a fresh perspective to the council. We live in a diverse city, and I believe that having
a diverse council that represents our city is very important. While I am very thankful to be back
home, living in Indianapolis and being very involved in my community there has given me new
ideas to bring to the table as well as an appreciation for how truly special our city is. If elected,
I will work to make decisions that are in the best interest of my district as well as the city. I will
work to be a voice for the people of District 4 so that we are not left behind as our city
continues to grow and thrive.
Kerry Blessinger
I bring a lot of experience to the table, and I am very good at deciphering budgets. I am a very calm person, able to make decisions and try to leave emotion to the wayside. I have worked with most of those involved with the city right now and have good working relationships with all. I will not just show up at meetings, I will be involved!!
