Dickerson will run for at-large seat

By Rod Rose/The Lebanon Reporter

Lebanon July 03, 2008 01:06 am

— Paul Dickerson, Lebanon, Monday became the third Democrat to announce his candidacy for an at-large seat on the Boone County Council.
Democrats now have three candidates for the three seats, equaling the number of Republicans.
The party is in a position to take control of county finances if its council, commissioner and treasurer candidates are elected, said Jim Whelan, county Democratic Party chairman.
Dickerson has an extensive background in business finance and management, Whelan said.
“If anybody can crunch numbers and do a tight budget, it’s Paul,” Whelan said.
While this is Dickerson’s first run for elective office, he has been involved in party politics for years, Whelan said.
“He’s one of our most active Democrats,” Whelan said.
Dickerson said he opposes raising taxes and wants no increase in county spending.
“I don’t know what you would cut,” he said in response to a question on how he would trim the county’s budget.
He would redirect spending on county roads, however. Some roads in the northern part of the county “have not been worked on for years,” he said.
“All four corners of the county pay taxes; you have to equalize spending,” he said.
He opposes taxing county residents to pay for projects in other counties, Dickerson said.
He has worked in accounting for more than 50 years.
He was a co-founder of Capitol Life Insurance, which was later sold. He’s worked for the Indiana Department of Insurance and has helped start new companies, he said.
Democrat Raymond Mahoy announced his at-large council candidacy last week. The other Democrat is Jeff Odom. Republican candidates include incumbents Debby Shubert, Marcia Wilhoite and David Rodgers.