Dubois County Treasurer to run for county commissioner in 2016
Dubois County Treasurer, Chad Blessinger, announced he will run for the office of Dubois County Commissioner representing District #1.
There are three commissioner districts in Dubois County. District #1 consists of Boone, Columbia, Harbison, Madison and Patoka Townships. A candidate for the office must live in the district but is elected by all of the county’s voters.
“I believe it is time for Dubois County to develop a long term plan for county government. The county faces many challenges including uncertain revenue, deteriorating infrastructure, and a changing population with changing needs,” Blessinger said. “We need to take stock of our current situation, use the best research available, and bring together county stakeholders to assess future needs and available resources. We should meet with representatives of municipalities, townships, school corporations, county government, and State and Federal agencies on a regular basis and maintain an open and collaborative relationship with them. Transparency for the public and open and forthright communication between units of government should be our goal. I believe I am the kind of officeholder who can lead our county in this direction.”
A 1996 graduate of Jasper High School, Blessinger earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Indiana University. During his time in Bloomington, he was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society. He is also a member of Sigma Pi International Fraternity.
From 1998-99, Blessinger gave a year of service with AmeriCorp National Civilian Community Corps. As a Corps member, he worked with homeless and at-risk youth, provided hurricane disaster relief with the American Red Cross, and performed habitat restoration in the Golden Gate NRA, San Francisco.
In 2005, he completed the Real Estate Certification program at the Vincennes University-Jasper Campus. He earned a Level 1 Assessor-Appraiser Designation in 2014 from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. Blessinger was also a graduate of the inaugural Dubois County Leadership Academy in 2011.
In 2001-2002, Blessinger was a third-grade teacher in an inner-city Evansville elementary school. He was a member of the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation Teachers Association.
Blessinger returned to Jasper in 2002 as owner/operator of Shooters Bar & Grill, which he operated until 2005. He is a past member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the National Association of Realtors. In 2008, Blessinger was elected to the office of Dubois County Treasurer. He was re-elected to that office in 2012.
Blessinger, 38, is a member and past president of the Jasper Lions Club and is a member of the Brosmer House Board of Trustees. He serves on the local Selective Service Board, NACo Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee, and is a member of the Jasper Outdoor Recreation Association. He is on the executive committee of the Dubois County Substance Abuse Council and has served as treasurer of that organization. Blessinger is also an IHSAA licensed official and enjoys officiating local youth sporting events.
Chad Blessinger is the son of the late Greg and Linda Blessinger and has one brother, Craig, of Evansville. He and his wife, Lyn, have a son Dylan and daughter Leanne. They reside in Harbison Township.
“I look forward to working with the other Commissioners, County Council members, and county officer holders and employees to improve public access to county services and to provide a responsive and responsible county government,” he said.
