The two candidates running to represent District 4 on the Greenwood Common Council both hope they can make the city better for the future.
Republican newcomer Teri Manship, a director and teacher at Knightsbridge Academy, unseated incumbent Ron Bates in the May primary. Challenging her in the general election is Democrat Nathan Cardenas, a newcomer to both politics and Greenwood, who has spent time volunteering at local libraries and runs a fencing class at the Greenwood Fieldhouse.
Cardenas says one of the city’s top issues is public safety, along with addressing a language barrier among residents. For Manship, the city’s top issues include managing growth, inflation and restoring civility in the political process.
District 4 is Greenwood’s most developed district, serving the northwest corner of the city, from U.S. 31 to State Road 135, and from Main Street to the county line. Only residents living within those boundaries will get to vote in this race.
To help voters make their decision in the District 4 city council race, the Daily Journal asked the candidates their takes on issues facing the city.
Here’s what they said, edited for length and clarity:
What made you want to run for this office?
Cardenas: I noticed that for this position and several others, the incumbents were running unopposed. The initial thought was really just a matter of, ‘Well, let’s make sure people know they do have a choice.’ A lot of times people disengage from local politics for that reason. It’s providing a choice letting Greenwood residents know that they do get to control their city’s future, more than maybe they thought they could.
Manship: I’ve been interested for some time, just watching from afar, going to council meetings. I’m a very child-centered person and a lifelong educator. I was watching my students leave Greenwood when they graduated and not understanding why. But I had many of them tell me it was just for a better quality of life and other job opportunities that were not available in Greenwood at the time. So I’m running for council. I want to see Greenwood continue to grow in ways that are responsible, of course. But after three decades of education experience here in Greenwood, I just want the opportunities there for the children so they can stay here with their families and not be forced to move somewhere that has the opportunities available. I’ve lived here since 1971. … I want to leave it a better place than I was when I came. It was a great place when we moved here, but it’s even better now.
What are the most pressing issues facing the city?
Cardenas: The difficult situation that the police and fire departments are facing, in terms of staffing and funding. I’m not the only one who’s looking at this, but that’s certainly something that would be at the front of my mind, and the front of my agenda, is trying to give them what they need to keep us safe. … They need the resources to do their jobs, and to do them well. This one might be a bit niche, but I did also become aware that for some of the local residents, there’s an issue accessing medical care because of language barrier, specifically the Hakha Chin speakers in the area. I was taking my son to urgent care one day and was chatting with the billing receptionist there, and she mentioned that the service that they have available for interpreting sometimes doesn’t even have that language. I believe there’s a church in the city that serves this community, so there’s obviously enough people around … but they might be facing those kinds of barriers. … I know that the Johnson County libraries are doing work with adult English education. … I would start by working with the existing program and seeing what we can do to help the residents directly in learning English, but also seeing what the city can do to improve the pool of resources that are provided in that language.
Manship: I think the growth has taken off. Managing growth responsibly would be a primary concern. Funding city operations during a rate of high inflation is going to be a challenge, (plus) high interest rates. Those things make things very complicated for a lot of reasons. More regulation from the state and federal government, all those things complicate operations through our lives and the city as well. (Also) civility in the political process has been something that’s been disheartening. I’m hoping to rectify that, and build a camaraderie in our (council) again, in our city again.
What should the city council do to address public safety?
Cardenas: The truth is I haven’t seen the books, but of all the things that a city is going to be responsible for, their own emergency services should be pretty high on that list. So it might be a matter of re-prioritizing, it might be a matter of increasing … the size of the city budget. The exact form that it would take, I couldn’t tell you right now. But it’s certainly you know, it needs to be something that’s prioritized maybe ahead of other things that the city is doing, because those don’t have a direct impact on day-to-day safety.
Manship: That will be difficult for me to answer since I haven’t been on the council and seen what has been proposed, or what has come around. … I don’t have enough information to answer that. It’s definitely an issue for the city because of the growth. I would make that one of my biggest issues as well. … It would be — in fact, it’s probably my primary concern — just because I’ve heard so much about it. But I don’t have enough information to know what has been presented or voted on previously because I’m not a politician, or have been on the council.
How should Greenwood approach growth?
Cardenas: It’s important to grow smartly. And by that, I mean we need to sort of get ahead of growth in terms of infrastructure, and I mean that in physical infrastructure, but also in city services. Going back, the fire department and the police department are perfect examples of if the city continues to grow, the strain that they’re under is only going to get worse. But also expanding the the wonderful bike paths and pedestrian pathways that we have downtown, if we could expand those out into other parts of the city that could help reduce traffic, especially when the weather is nice. Because as the city grows, and certain areas become more dense, traffic’s inevitably going to get worse unless we get out in front of it in some way. We can’t add in more lanes everywhere, of course. We’re gonna have to find some creative solutions for growing without putting a big burden on the both the residents that are already here and our new neighbors.
Manship: Managing growth while being responsible and watching for controlled growth. Housing is an issue and Greenwood is growing. In order to fulfill the needs of the growing population, we want experienced workforce. We need to address the housing in responsible ways. Again, I’m at a disadvantage here and speaking about things that I haven’t been presented. So I would just stay with responsible controlled growth. I’m a very easy speaker and a very attentive listener. I plan to continue doing those things … if I get to work with the city.
How do you feel about additional development of warehouses, logistics and manufacturing facilities in the city?
Cardenas: It doesn’t bother me — that’s the short answer. If they’re bringing in jobs, they’re bringing in revenue … I suppose that’s another instance where planning the infrastructure properly so that it doesn’t then cause a bunch of congestion, for example, with trucks coming in and out of already busy areas. But no, I think if that’s the investment that we can get in the city, I don’t have a problem with it.
Manship: I don’t know where else they would put them in or why would it would be needed. But again, your question I can’t answer. I don’t have that kind of information in front of me. I know it goes through an awful lot of channels before that even comes to the council. I would hope that all of us would be mindful of controlled and responsible growth. I know I keep saying that but that is the answer. Those are answers that I think everyone on the council would give you as well. … I think also it needs to be said that all of these things need a council person, whoever it is, that will listen carefully and consider all these matters before commenting or voting on them. There’s a lot of literature to read and understanding out there. I’m not going to be swayed by groups of people or the interests of certain groups. I will vote with my conscience and what I think is best for the city … if I am elected.
How should tax abatements be used by the city?
Cardenas: The best way to handle that sort of thing is on a case-by-case basis. You have to do the math and see if is it going to bring in more value overall than what we would be missing out on the tax abatement. Even something like a phasing out — you get an initial incentive to come in that might change over time — so that you save the money starting up. But of course, once the investment has been made, and the relationship grows mutually beneficial, then it’s maybe not really necessary anymore.
Manship: I haven’t been on the council to see what they have voted yes and no to. I haven’t been ever in a position where I have voted on something like that. … The abatement would have to be something I would have to give thoughtful consideration and asking the appropriate questions and talking to the people who have been studying these things and presenting them to us. But I can promise I will always listen attentively and give thoughtful questions and considerations before a vote is made. In the years I’ve spent in education … one of the things I’ve learned prominently is it’s not one side. You have to be open and thoughtful and considerate of everything before you just make rash decisions or say yes or no.
ABOUT THE JOB
What: Greenwood City Council District 4
District 4: Represents the northwest corner of the city, from roughly U.S. 31 to State Road 135, and from Main Street to the county line.
Term: Four years
Pay: $13,058.98 a year (2024 approved)
Duties: Set annual spending for the city, make policy changes, adopt new local rules and ordinances, approve new taxes, appoint members to various city boards.
THE CARDENAS FILE
Name: Nathan Cardenas
Party: Democrat
Age: 32
Family: Wife, Emma; two children
Occupation: Localization engineer, CQfluency
Education: Miamisburg High School, Ohio; Wright State University
Political experience: None
Memberships: None
THE MANSHIP FILE
Name: Teri L. Manship
Party: Republican
Age: 63
Family: Husband Cory; three sons, one granddaughter
Occupation: Director and teacher at Knightsbridge Academy
Education: Center Grove High School; Ball State University bachelor’s; Indiana University master’s in education
Political experience: None
Memberships: Volunteer at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, The Impact Center and The Refuge Center
