2008 Woodie Awards
Q&A with Greencastle mayor-elect Sue Murray
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: News
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The DePauw sat down with newly-elected Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray to ask her about the election, her relationship with the DePauw community and local politics.
The DePauw: What factors motivated you to run for the mayor’s office?
Sue Murray: I care about the community. We’ve lived here for 29 years. It’s been good to us. We raised our children here, and I honestly think we have an obligation to give back.
TDP: What change in your life do you expect will be most difficult to adjust to after you become mayor?
Murray: I can only rely on people that have been in the position before, and what they tell me is that it’s very difficult to move through your normal life in the community without people wanting to talk with you about the issues. That’s not a bad thing. It’s important, but what [former mayors] tell me is that it’s sometimes hard to get away from the job.
TDP: How do you think your experience working with local citizens in your job as Social Services Director at Putnam County Hospital will help you during your term of office?
Murray: Social workers are problem-solvers. I hope that experience is what I’m going to take with me as I begin working with local citizens.
TDP: What city positions will you be responsible for appointing after taking office?
Murray: They have sent me a whole list, and I have just begun to go through those. I have a lot of people to speak with. Certainly the department heads serve at the discretion of the mayor. I also have a Board of Works member to appoint, and a good number of folks to certain commissions and boards. I’m still learning what some of those commissions and boards do.
TDP: The “Candidates’ Forum” hosted by DePauw University in October raised many issues that the city will face as the next four years progress. Which one do you think is most important to address?
Murray: Just one, huh? I think one of the crucial ones we’re going to be looking at is ways to revitalize our economic development and bring new jobs to the community. Aside from that we’ve got projects to complete what we’ve started, we need to revitalize our downtown, and we most certainly have an opportunity to enhance town-gown relationships.
TDP: The first 100 days of an elected official’s term are often used as a measuring stick for their success. Upon being elected mayor, you spoke of a plan for your first 100 days in office. Could you outline part of this plan?
Murray: To aggressively work with the chamber, Main Street, the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and downtown landowners and businesses to create a downtown business improvement district. To begin conversations with the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center and the McDermond Center for Management and Entrepreneurship to possibly create a business incubator system that will attract new businesses to locate and grow in the Greencastle community. I personally want to commit to working with the Putnam County Community Foundation and Ivy Tech Foundation to raise the local funds that will be needed to equip, furnish and endow the new Ivy Tech campus here. From the Greencastle Hometown Alliance recommendations, to undertake planning of a community summit, to complete work on our community Web site and to create an environmental signage program. I’m hoping to apply to the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) to apply for grant funds for student workers this summer to expedite our community’s sidewalk replacement program. Last, but certainly not least, is to meet with all of our city employees to review departmental responsibilities and our efficiency in performing them.
TDP: If you had to do one thing to improve the town-gown relationship between Greencastle residents and the students, faculty and staff of DePauw, what would it be?
Murray: Find more ways and forums for communication.
TDP: Aside from voting, what do you think is the best way for students to become involved in local politics?
Murray: To get to know the elected officials, and to take the time to become more involved in the community.
The DePauw: What factors motivated you to run for the mayor’s office?
Sue Murray: I care about the community. We’ve lived here for 29 years. It’s been good to us. We raised our children here, and I honestly think we have an obligation to give back.
TDP: What change in your life do you expect will be most difficult to adjust to after you become mayor?
Murray: I can only rely on people that have been in the position before, and what they tell me is that it’s very difficult to move through your normal life in the community without people wanting to talk with you about the issues. That’s not a bad thing. It’s important, but what [former mayors] tell me is that it’s sometimes hard to get away from the job.
TDP: How do you think your experience working with local citizens in your job as Social Services Director at Putnam County Hospital will help you during your term of office?
Murray: Social workers are problem-solvers. I hope that experience is what I’m going to take with me as I begin working with local citizens.
TDP: What city positions will you be responsible for appointing after taking office?
Murray: They have sent me a whole list, and I have just begun to go through those. I have a lot of people to speak with. Certainly the department heads serve at the discretion of the mayor. I also have a Board of Works member to appoint, and a good number of folks to certain commissions and boards. I’m still learning what some of those commissions and boards do.
TDP: The “Candidates’ Forum” hosted by DePauw University in October raised many issues that the city will face as the next four years progress. Which one do you think is most important to address?
Murray: Just one, huh? I think one of the crucial ones we’re going to be looking at is ways to revitalize our economic development and bring new jobs to the community. Aside from that we’ve got projects to complete what we’ve started, we need to revitalize our downtown, and we most certainly have an opportunity to enhance town-gown relationships.
TDP: The first 100 days of an elected official’s term are often used as a measuring stick for their success. Upon being elected mayor, you spoke of a plan for your first 100 days in office. Could you outline part of this plan?
Murray: To aggressively work with the chamber, Main Street, the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and downtown landowners and businesses to create a downtown business improvement district. To begin conversations with the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center and the McDermond Center for Management and Entrepreneurship to possibly create a business incubator system that will attract new businesses to locate and grow in the Greencastle community. I personally want to commit to working with the Putnam County Community Foundation and Ivy Tech Foundation to raise the local funds that will be needed to equip, furnish and endow the new Ivy Tech campus here. From the Greencastle Hometown Alliance recommendations, to undertake planning of a community summit, to complete work on our community Web site and to create an environmental signage program. I’m hoping to apply to the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) to apply for grant funds for student workers this summer to expedite our community’s sidewalk replacement program. Last, but certainly not least, is to meet with all of our city employees to review departmental responsibilities and our efficiency in performing them.
TDP: If you had to do one thing to improve the town-gown relationship between Greencastle residents and the students, faculty and staff of DePauw, what would it be?
Murray: Find more ways and forums for communication.
TDP: Aside from voting, what do you think is the best way for students to become involved in local politics?
Murray: To get to know the elected officials, and to take the time to become more involved in the community.
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