Turpin
General Assignment/Local Government Reporter
Turpin
Ron Turpin says he’s ready to pick up the mantle left by his predecessor as he begins his tenure as an Allen County commissioner.
A 30-year businessman and former East Allen County Schools board member, Turpin began his first term in the county government’s legislative and executive branches Wednesday after Nelson Peters’ retirement as a commissioner.
“I’m not going to be filling Nelson’s shoes,” Turpin said. “It’s impossible to replicate someone else. I’m not Nelson. I have different strengths. I have different weaknesses. What I can do is pick up the baton where he left it and continue the race.”
Turpin, who was scheduled to participate today in his first commissioners meeting, said he wants to take what Peters has done “to the next mile.”
“I have a different skill set than Nelson has,” Turpin said. “I have a different background than Nelson has. So, how do I take that background and continue the work that he did to make Allen County the best it possibly can be?”
In his 40 years as a commissioner, Peters was a leader in working to ensure all county residents have access to reliable internet service.
Before his retirement, Peters said there is more work to be done. Turpin said he has unreliable internet service at home and looks forward to continuing that work.
“Our internet is terrible,” Turpin said. “We cannot have that in the 21st century. Internet is a utility just like electricity or gas or water. For us to have a growing thriving community, we have to have reliable internet throughout the entire county. So, that is a priority to me.”
Turpin said small subdivisions are dealing with unreliable internet, not just rural neighborhoods with miles between houses.
“We will not attract talent,” Turpin said. “We will not keep people here under that scenario.”
The commissioners approve legislation, various county projects and funding up to a certain point. The Allen County Council is the fiscal body of the county government, and it controls the budget and county tax rates.
Turpin, who faced Allen County Councilman Tom Harris in the primary, ran on a promise to make sure the Allen County government would get the best use of taxpayer dollars for the roughly $300 million jail project, the county’s solution to a federal court order to address unconstitutional conditions at the current correctional facility. Turpin said that means finding ways to keep people out of jail.
“We’ll build that jail,” Turpin said. “I’ve told the sheriff I would love for his confinement officers to be bored because they don’t have anything to do because the jail is empty. Is it possible? I think it is.”
Peters’ now former colleagues had advice for Turpin as he begins his tenure as commissioner.
Commissioner Therese Brown, now in her 15th year, is encouraging Turpin to ask questions early and often.
“Understand you’re not a candidate anymore,” Brown said. “You’re now an elected official. I’ve seen newly elected officials be shocked by the administrative responsibilities we have. It takes time to understand everything. As my mother always told me, Rome was not built in a day. It comes down to you being honest and straightforward and doing what’s right for the community.”
Chris Cloud, the Allen County commissioners’ chief of staff for 17 years, said he hopes Turpin will quickly learn how to work with the other commissioners.
“The challenge with any three people who share the same job title is finding out how they work best together,” Cloud said. “So, for us to be able to continue to do the good work that Nelson has been integral in, the things that we’ve got going on right now, it’s always imperative that the three commissioners figure out how they work best.”
Commissioner Rich Beck, now in his seventh year, said Turpin will need to get used to the pace of government compared to the private sector.
“I think he’s got to be a good listener and pay attention and just take things in stride,” Beck said. “I came out of the private sector. Government’s not the private sector. Things don’t move quickly here. They take their time, and that’s a frustration that I experienced. That’s a frustration he’s going to experience.”
Peters said he believes work has been done for Turpin to transition to the role seamlessly – assuming he and the rest of the county government work together.
“The foundation’s been built,” Peters said. “I think it’s all about collaboration. A community that collaborates is going to be a successful community.”
tsandleben@jg.net
Turpin
Age: 53
Home: Unincorporated Allen County
Occupation: Tax lawyer and certified public accountant
Political experience: East Allen County Schools board member for four years after he was elected in 2020; unsuccessfully ran in the 2022 Republican primary for the District 14 state Senate seat now held by Tyler Johnson
Two newly elected officials have been working for weeks despite their terms not starting until next week, they said after swearing into office…
General Assignment/Local Government Reporter
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