Editor’s Note: Submissions appear as the candidates submitted them without editing.Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. If an answer length’s has been edited, it is because the answer extended beyond the predetermined limit. Unabridged answers appear on our Web site www.newsandtribune.com under the Election 2007 link. Except where noted, questionnaires are only being published for contested races.

David L. Kinder

• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Democrat
• AGE: 70
• EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS YOU WISH TO NOTE: Indiana State Teachers College, Indiana Mortuary Academy, Indiana State Police Academy, F.B.I. National Academy, Southern Indiana Leadership Training
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:Served Clark County and Surrounding Counties as an Indiana State Trooper for 25 years then as the Chief of Police for the Town of Sellersburg for 9 ∏ years. Served Sellersburg as the Clerk-Treasurer during the past 8 years. Upgraded the Clerk-Treasurer’s office with computerized files, prepared the Town Budgets. Invested Towns finances for increased interest.
• FAMILY NOTES YOU WISH TO SHARE: Married to Charlotte R. Kinder and have two daughters and four granddaughters.

1) WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY REASON FOR SEEKING THIS POSITION?
“I have been a resident of Sellersburg for more than 40 years. I have served this community as an Indiana State Police Officer, the Chief of Police and Clerk-Treasurer. I have raised my family in this Town and take great pride in participating in different community activities. I have been a member of Silver Creek Kiwanis, served on the Sellersburg Celebrates Committee, Judged the Holiday Basketball tournament Queen Contest for many years and been a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church.”
“During my tenure as the Clerk Treasurer, we, my staff, Michelle and Robin Jones have organized and updated all the Town files, computerized the records and made the Clerk’s office very assessable to the general public. “Service with Courtesy” is the theme of the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office.”

2) IF ELECTED, WHICH ISSUE IS YOUR PRIORITY TO ADDRESS FIRST AND WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTED SOLUTION?
“To continue serving the citizens of Sellersburg in a very professional and helpful manner. To maintain the Town records so that they will be available and readily accessible to any citizen making and inquiry about the Town or the Town’s business.”

3) WHAT SPECIFICALLY DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM YOUR OPPONENT IN THIS RACE?
“My years as a resident of the Town, past services to the Community and my enthusiasm to help Sellersburg grow and prosper.
“Eight years experience in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office learning the laws, guidelines and regulations in handling the fiscal records and finances of the Town.”

Tom Schuster

• POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican
• AGE: 60
• EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS YOU WISH TO NOTE: “Bachelor of Business Administration degree, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky”
• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “I have over 37 years of accounting and business management experience working in both small companies and large corporations in the Kentuckiana area. I have held the position of controller at several businesses and more recently was business manager for a Jeffersonville company headquartered in Lafayette Indiana. I have served Sellersburg for 8 years on the Planning Commission and the Zoning Appeals Board, the past 2 years as President of the Planning Commission. I am also President of the Forrest Estates Homeowners Association."


• FAMILY NOTES YOU WISH TO SHARE: “My wife Claudia and I have been residents of Sellersburg for over 17 years. I have a son, Jason, and two lovely grandaughters.”

1)WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY REASON FOR SEEKING THIS POSITION?
“I am proud to have been presented with the opportunity to run for this position. I am looking forward to serving my town in this capacity and feel that my years of varied business experience make me well qualified for the task ahead. What excites me is the vision and determination of the current town council, and judge, and their desire to keep sellersburg moving forward. Being Clerk-Treasurer for this team will provide the missing piece required to accomplish their goals for the town, not just for the next four years but also well into the future.

2) IF ELECTED, WHICH ISSUE IS YOUR PRIORITY TO ADDRESS FIRST AND WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTED SOLUTION?
“The primary issue with respect to the Clerk-Treasurer's office is the hindrance this office has often been to the workings of the town council. In order for the council team to work together effectively and efficiently there must exist a free flow of financial and other related information between the clerk-treasurer and the council. My election to this position will remove this potential roadblock and ensure that the books will always be open and available for the council's use.”

3) WHAT SPECIFICALLY DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM YOUR OPPONENT IN THIS RACE?
“What I believe distinguishes me from my opponent is my business administration education and my many years of solid accounting and business management experience. This working knowledge includes developing operating budgets and monitoring them to insure financial integrity and efficiency. This is one of the primary responsibilities of the clerk-treasurer's office. I will always be aware of who's money in am spending and why i am spending it. Two other attributes which set me apart are my high energy level and my strong work ethic. The clerk-treasurer position is a full time job and I will work to make sure that Sellersburg's residents are getting what they are paying for.”