St. Joseph County Officials

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, House Representative Tom Kean, Jr. of New Jersey, and now Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky all had to be absent from work. McConnell’s current absence garners a great amount of attention, but the memes and jokes will not effect change; we can and should make changes by encouraging our state lawmakers to take action so that we are not left without appropriate representation.  

Two hours before I sat down to write this, the St. Joseph County Democratic Party posted a Facebook message that opened with the mourning of two fallen U.S. service members and closed with a campaign endorsement for Jamee Decio.

The clerk's office is defined by neutrality and precision, maintaining court records and overseeing elections without political agendas. Incumbent Amy Rolfes has established efficient procedures and achieved high confidence in election integrity. Challenger Stephanie Ball emphasizes empathy and advocacy but fails to address the office's objective requirements, questioning her suitability for the role.

Stephanie D. Ball, a candidate for St. Joseph Circuit Court clerk, has an unpaid default judgment of $5,628.05 resulting from a Citibank credit card debt. Despite claiming to be a certified credit counselor with experience in guiding others through legal processes, she filed no response to her own lawsuit. Ball's campaign documentation raises concerns about professionalism and accuracy, reflecting her tenure on the school board, where mismanagement led to inflated costs on a renovation project. This record complicates her candidacy for a position responsible for maintaining court records.

When we open our homes to short-term renters, we do so with a sense...