The race to represent District 4 on the Franklin City Council pits loads of political experience against a fresh perspective.
Republican Kenneth Austin has served on the council since 2004, including the past 12 years in the District 4 seat. He is proud to have been part of the team that has helped lead Franklin’s downtown revitalization, economic growth and other achievements, though he wants to continue the work that he’s started.
"We’ve accomplished a lot of nice things here the last 10 years, but there are some things on the plate that you’d like to finish," he said. "There are things that will need to be finished in the next four years."
His challenger is Zach Stevenson, an independent candidate who has no prior political experience, but believes he brings new ideas and other ways of approaching issues facing the city, including helping struggling families and the homeless.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
"I enjoy seeing where Franklin is going. I feel like I can bring a fresher perspective and younger perspective to help them understand what somebody my age is seeing right now in Franklin, and what we need," he said. "I want to see Franklin be its best."
District 4 includes much of downtown Franklin south of Jefferson Street, as well as parts of the east side of the city, south of King Street. The winner will join the seven-member city council to set annual spending for the city, make policy changes, adopt new local rules and ordinances, approve new taxes and appoint members to various city boards.
Austin joined the city council in 2004, winning a caucus to represent District 5. In 2007, he won another caucus, this time for District 4, and has held that seat ever since. He is currently the council’s president.
His decision in running for a fourth term is to carry on the momentum that is building in the city.
"I continue to give back, that’s why I started doing that. I want to continue to move Franklin in the right direction," he said.
Foremost among those issues is continuing to address the environmental issues surrounding the cleanup of the former Amphenol site, and the contamination that has leaked south and east from the property. City officials have been active working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to ensure contamination in that area is monitored and eventually cleaned up.
Vigilance is needed as that process continues, Austin said.
"I want to make sure we continue to follow up, to work with the EPA, that all of the cleanup is done properly, with oversight and precision. The mayor has really taken the lead on that, but that needs to happen," he said. "It needs to be monitored and addressed and looked at to make sure the EPA is doing what they’re supposed to be doing."
The advancements in economic development, such as bringing and maintaining good, well-paying jobs, are another area Austin would like to keep working on. And as the city continues to grow, continuing to assess and address issues such as public safety through police and fire services will be important for Franklin.
"When we grow, we need to make sure we have boots on the ground as far as our police officers go. We need to monitor that we have the correct staffing for city employees. We need to have the employees that can take care of our town," he said.
Stevenson, a lifelong resident of Franklin, wanted to run for office in order to help the city continue to improve and reach its potential. He has taught special education at Franklin Community Middle School for the past seven years, and coaches cross country, wrestling and track. While he has seen the progress the community has made, there are issues he has personal experience with that could be improved.
Foremost is the struggle that homeless individuals and families go through every day. Stevenson would like the council to focus on bringing in more affordable housing to make finding a place to live easier. Franklin also needs a homeless shelter or place to temporarily house people, particularly families, who become homeless.
"It’s really sad when you’re a teacher and you have a student who is absent in class three days a week because they’re homeless and they’re at home taking care of a sibling because mom and dad have to go work," he said. "As a teacher, I really can’t do a lot. I’m hoping as a city councilman, I can help try to figure out a way to solve these issues."
Stevenson would also like to see the city council support local non-profit organizations, as well as strengthen its relationship with businesses and schools and other organizations within the community. An example of that would be fostering a bond with Franklin College and its students, tapping them to be the engine that drives community service initiatives, he said.
"I feel like we have so many opportunities in Franklin for these college students to be doing community service, different internships. There’s a lot more to get involved with," he said. "I feel like there’s a lot of things we could foster there."
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”The Austin File” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Kenneth Wayne Austin
Party: Republican
Age: 55
Family: Wife, Birgit; one daughter
Occupation: Industrial heater sales, Garcor Supply
Education: Franklin Community High School, 1982; Otero Junior College, 1984
Political experience: Franklin City Council District 5, 2004-2007; city council District 4, 2007-present
Memberships: Franklin Elks No. 1818, American Legion
Military: U.S. Army, 1988 to 1993, Fulda, Germany
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”The Stevenson File” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Zachary M. Stevenson
Party: Independent
Age: 29
Family: Husband, Travis
Education: Franklin Community High School, 2008; Franklin College, 2013
Occupation: Mild intervention special education teacher, Franklin Community Middle School
Political experience: None
Memberships: Phi Delta Theta fraternity; middle school athletics coach in boys and girls cross country, wrestling and girls track.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the job” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Franklin City Council District 4
Term: Four years
Pay: $7,522 annually
Duties: Set the annual city budget, approve ordinances, rezoning requests and tax abatements, appoint residents to various boards
[sc:pullout-text-end]
