Primary slated for Hammond president race

Talk about it

The Village of Hammond will hold a primary for the president position on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Village Hall. Ballots may be cast from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vince Trudell, Incumbent

Number of years as a Hammond resident: 32 years

Years served on village boards: Four years total, two as trustee and two as president.

Reasons for running for president: We have some unfinished business. We’ve had a lot of odd things happen in my term - hiring a clerk, firing people - and I’ve been figuring it out. I’m in the swing of things. I enjoy doing it.

Main issues Hammond needs to address: Help people stay in their homes. Keep offering the same services that Hammond has always had, and just helping people out as much as we can.

Tom Kinney

Number of years living in Hammond: 30 years

Years served on village board: 12 years total, six years as president

Reasons for running for president: Basically, we need a new direction. The board has kind of been having some problems. Agendas aren’t getting finished, actions aren’t being taken. Hammond needs new leadership to make it more business friendly. Now is the time to bring businesses and employers to Hammond to increase jobs and lower taxes.

The number of special board meetings ballooned out of proportion. Business should be done at regular board meetings. Often, no action is taken at the special board meetings. That’s expensive to tax payers.

The average citizen is not being respected or listened to by board, it sometimes seems.

I want to stress that there needs to be a new direction but not that everyone on the board is wrong.

Main issues Hammond needs to address: Increase jobs, decrease taxes.

Eric Arthur

Number of years as a Hammond resident: Seven years

Years served on village boards: Two and a half years, currently serving as trustee

Reasons for running for president: I want to try to make a difference, listen to the people and try to save the taxpayer’s money.

Main issues Hammond needs to address: The Davis Street Project is going to be a big issue. There’s still work to do with sidewalk issues and ordinances. We’re moving forward with that. I want to figure out ways to try to lower the water bill, maybe by building more homes and businesses to stretch the tax base.

Tags: hammond, primary, president, race