Smith looks to punch ticket to Rockville Town Board seat

As a lifelong Parke County resident with an extensive military and law enforcement background, Rodger Smith is used to serving.

He wants to continue to serve this election season, as he is running for a spot on the Rockville Town Board. Smith finds himself in a crowded Republican primary for town board, running against Shane Russell and Tyson Conrady in May and Democrat Kevin Callans awaits in November. 

"I am looking at this as a stepping stone and see where it takes me. I am heavily involved in the community and have done a lot of giving back, basically since I was a kid. I served 12 years in the National Guard, one year of that was in Iraq. I was a reserve patrolman for the Rockville Police Department for about 10 years, and then an SRO with the Parke County Sheriff's Department with Riverton schools for a couple years. I am always giving back to the community," Smith told The Parke County Post. 

Smith has also been active with Parke County Incorporated, helping with the Maple Syrup Festival and the Covered Bridge Festival. 

"I got heavily involved with that organization. Basically, there were a lot of older folks and they needed some younger folks to get involved. Coming off Covid was very tough for that organization. Getting my foot in the door, putting in a lot of time and effort and some restructuring, we were able to take an organization that was failing financially and get it back in the black and able to continue with the things we do. Pretty proud of that with the group of people I have on the board and the employees at PCI," Smith said. 

Smith said he is running to continue to give back to the community and saw the "uproar" from the Town Board at the beginning of the year. 

"A lot of people want to sit back and be keyboard warriors and say, "it's time for a change." Then there are four of us running total. I am anxious to see how all this plays out. The main thing is people get out and vote. I would appreciate the vote, but just get out and vote and voice your opinion on who will make that change and be the best person for this position," said Smith, who has attended every Rockville Town Board meeting since announcing his intention to run.

The first time candidate says he can bring a different perspective to the board, if elected. 

"Being a younger person in my mid-40s and looking at things differently, did the town really need to purchase the old RMC building. Was that a true need or a want. It may have been a true need, I don't know. I am not afraid to ruffle feathers and ask difficult questions. I've been to meetings and there are a couple questions I have and would like to ask. Do they get three quotes when they bid it out. There's things like that I think would be beneficial. The cheapest quote isn't always the best quote. I am huge on supporting local Rockville and Parke County. If there is a contractor doing some work and they come in a little higher, but they are local, give the local business the work. I think that is hugely important, when possible," Smith said. 

Being all "eyes and ears" when it comes to Rockville Town business, Smith said he is trying to learn as much as he can. He noted he has heard quite a bit about stormwater fees and the collection of fees.

"As far as fees being collected, that definitely needs to be addressed. We need to make sure they are being collected per the town ordinances already set. That is the first thing. Before raising any rates, you need to make sure people are paying what they are supposed to be paying. That's only fair, and even if it is a line in the sand and we don't worry about the past and say moving forward, this is what is written and this is what we are doing. We need to fix that first before we raise rates. Sewer bills are also looking at being increased $20 a month. That is huge. There are different things I am looking at. I look at it like my house. I know how much money I have coming in and what my bills are. If I overspend, what am I cutting? Is the town doing the same? They might be, I don't know, but what can we do as a board to cut some of the spending, and can we look at what is a true need and what is a want," Smith said. 

Attracting new residents is something Smith is also looking at, noting the town and county does a great job of attracting visitors year round. 

"Rockville MainStreet does a fine job putting on events. The CVC puts on a lot of events and helps with the advertising. There is a lot that goes into promoting the tourism in the town and county. To get those folks to come here and love it and live here, I don't know how we do that. I will say there have been some folks I've met and interacted with that came to our town to visit other veterans we served with and they wound up moving here. We do have that growth. I just don't know if there is any way to track it. I do think some are wanting to get out of the bigger cities, especially the folks who work remotely. I think we are seeing it, but maybe not in high numbers," he said. 

Smith said his years of military and law enforcement service have helped prepare him for a potential run for office. 

"It's huge. Going from small town Rockville to northern Iraq, I was very happy to get back to our community after spending a year there. It is definitely eye opening to see how life is outside of our community and country. It is a shocker to see how others live and that freedom we have here. It has made me who I am. As a reserve officer, you see the negative side of things and think that doesn't happen in our community, and it absolutely does. It has given me a different view of what happens in our community," Smith acknowledged, adding he is amazed with the number of mental health calls the local law enforcement officials deal with. 

Public safety is something "near and dear" to Smith's heart and he said, if elected, he will do what he can to protect public safety as well as other government responsibilities in the wake of legislation from Indianapolis that is causing some towns and municipalities to look at potential cuts to services.

"I will definitely voice my opinion when items like that come up. Police and fire and huge for our community. I am not afraid to ruffle feathers, respectfully. Good things come from debates and disagreements. You have to be respectful when you do it. I am passionate about things and there are conversations that could be had. The public safety of our community is a need," Smith said. 

As for why voters should vote for Smith in May, he said it is because he is the best candidate.

"I have a broad overview of several different areas. I am a production manager, where I manage 60 employees 24/7 and am over about $25 million in equipment. I have a lot on my plate. This is something I am definitely willing to take on and give a different outlook to this position and role," Smith said.