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Helvie announces for re-election to county commissioner seat

Jerry Helvie.
Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Jerry Helvie has announced that he will seek the Republican nomination to stand for re-election to the Huntington County Commissioner seat he has held for the past eight years.

Helvie represents the first district, which covers Jackson, Clear Creek, Warren and Dallas townships. However, voters throughout Huntington County are eligible to vote for all commissioners, regardless of the district they represent.

During his time as a Huntington County Commissioner, Helvie has also been a member of the Association of Indiana Counties and the Indiana Association of County Commissioners. He is a district president of the second organization, representing 15 counties in the northeast corner of Indiana.

Helvie says becoming active in a state organization benefits Huntington County. The state organizations give local officeholders the opportunity to learn what's going on across the state and become acquainted with all state legislators, not just local lawmakers, he says.

As a Huntington County Commissioner, Helvie has represented that panel on a variety of local boards including the EMA advisory council, drainage board, county plan commission and other boards.

"I really like giving back to the community," Helvie says of his service on the commissioners' panel. He has also served as a volunteer firefighter for three years. "I really like dealing with people."

As a commissioner who is well-known in his district, he says, he's able to answer basic questions from his constituents - where to vote, and where to get a building permit - as well as help local agencies receive their share of funds from the county coffers.

He cites the Mt. Etna Fire Department, the town of Markle, and sewer projects in Bippus and the Norwood Estates area that have received financial assistance from the county. Stimulus money that Helvie helped secure paved roads, he adds.

"We've been able to help almost every region of the area," Helvie says.