Two Republicans vie again for District 1 commissioner seat

Two familiar faces will face off in the Republican primary for the District 1 seat on the Johnson County Board of Commissioners.

Two-term incumbent Brian Baird is running for re-election, while Daniel J. Chupp is, again, trying for the seat after an unsuccessful run in 2016.

Both say they would bring to the table public safety experience and a drive to serve Johnson County residents.

Chupp, of Franklin, has been a firefighter and paramedic with the Indianapolis Fire Department for 18 years, after serving previously as a deputy and paramedic with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and as a volunteer with the Amity and Wayne Township fire departments.

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Baird, of Trafalgar, was formerly the Trafalgar Town Marshal and ran the school resource officer program for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office from 2003 to 2019.

Their professional pursuits drive their platforms for office, they said.

Baird’s priorities for the office revolve around infrastructure and business operations based on his experience running L.D. Contractors, a small plumbing, heating and air conditioning business.

If re-elected, Baird’s main goals would be continuing the board’s work on projects like the I-69 extension, jail expansion and maintaining county buildings and roads, he said. For the I-69 extension and jail expansion, Baird would continue using his business acumen and experience as a commissioner to scrutinize the plans and move the projects forward, he said.

Creating and implementing building and road maintenance plans have been a focus for Baird, he said. One project he hopes to move forward if re-elected is a major update to the Community Corrections building, to create a special bunk area for work release program members. 

Another priority for Baird is being available when county employees and elected officials need help, he said. He has taken it upon himself to be in the commissioner’s office most days, he said.

Chupp’s priorities are medical-related, stemming from his experience as a paramedic. Those priorities are based on what he sees on the job daily, or on concerns raised by his neighbors, he said.

There is a lack of available professional firefighters and paramedics to serve all parts of the county, Chupp said. Since seconds count when responding to an emergency, the time it takes for volunteer services to respond to some areas is problematic, he said.

If elected, Chupp would advocate for a county-run paramedic service to fill in the gaps in coverage for rural areas, particularly in southern Johnson County, which District 1 represents, he said.

One idea for creating this service is to have some sheriff’s deputies receive paramedic certifications and work from an ambulance, Chupp said. Though the service might have high upfront costs, likely exceeding $100,000, the service would pay for itself with user fees over time, he said.

As a firefighter and paramedic, Chupp sees many people with drug problems, and struggles to help them with few low-cost treatment options available, he said. If elected, another priority would be to work with local health care providers to bring new community-based drug treatments to residents, he said.

Though certain areas of Franklin were designated brownfields by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2004, Chupp said residents who developed health conditions still feel left out. If elected, he would pursue solutions for those individuals, he said.

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Johnson County Commissioner District 1

Represents: The southern third of the county, including Hensley, Nineveh and Blue River townships. 

Duties: The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is a three-person executive body of the county and is responsible for maintaining county buildings, lands and property; auditing and authorizing claims against the county; receiving bids and authorizing contracts; supervising county departments; and overseeing construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. 

Term: 4 years

Pay: About $27,000 (2019)

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Question: Has the county done enough in terms of its coronavirus response?

Baird: The commissioners have been listening to the people who work in county buildings. We are taking precautions for when we open back up, like purchasing sneeze guards (and) removable Plexiglas screens for county offices. The county is following the state’s lead on reopening government buildings. 

Chupp: I’m not fully aware of the response specifics in Johnson County since I work in Marion County. But I think the county can do more to step up and help people stay home. It doesn’t make sense to not be on the same page as the state with a stay-at-home order.

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Name: Brian Baird

Party: Republican

Residence: Trafalgar

Family: Wife, Beth; two adult children

Occupation: part-owner of L.D. Mechanical Contractors, a Franklin plumbing, heating and air conditioning company, since 1983

Educational background: Indian Creek High School; plumbing certification from trade school

Political experience: Two-term commissioner first elected in 2013

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Name: Daniel J. Chupp

Party: Republican

Residence: Franklin

Family: Two adult sons

Occupation: Cattle farmer and firefighter/paramedic with the Indianapolis Fire Department for 18 years

Educational background: Perry Meridian High School, took pre-medicine classes at IUPUI and Vincennes University

Political experience: Ran for county commissioner in 2016

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