One write-in candidate, two Democrats and three Republicans - two of them incumbents - are vying for three at-large Allen County Council seats.

Kevin Knuth, former chairman of the Allen County Democratic Party, said the fact that the GOP holds six of the board's seven seats illustrates the need for change.

“I'm a fiscal conservative, and my technical background would be a plus,” said Knuth, a frequent critic of GOP-dominated county government in the past.

But even though Knuth believes his background as an electronics consultant would serve the county well when it considers things such as the recent $23 million information technology contract, one of his main reasons for running was more low-tech: Council's June approval of the $55 million Maplecrest Road extension from Lake Avenue south to Adams Center Road.

“I would not have voted for it. I'm not sure we can pay for it,” said Knuth, adding that the council has failed to scrutinize spending in other areas as well.

Knuth also criticized the county's unsuccessful attempt to increase local vehicle taxes and to convince the city and other governments to return the money to the county for bridge repair. “There's no easy fix, but the way it was handled was wrong,” he said.

Knuth said he does not support creation of a single city-county government, but does support consolidation of some services. “I'll ask questions, even if it bucks the system,” he said.

Susan Hoot said her service on the County Plan Commission has whetted her appetite for a larger role in county government. She is also concerned about the Maplecrest project, and said Council will have to become more creative in dealing with budget challenges posed by property tax reform.

Hoot is a member of a task force studying 18 ways to make local government more efficient, perhaps by combining departments such as communications. “But we don't want to lose our individuality,” she said.

Hoot wants to open government to more public scrutiny, and would like Council to take a more active role in the budget process instead of establishing spending limits for individual departments, then allowing department heads discretion over how the money is spent.

The county should work harder to retain existing jobs, and Hoot said her experience as a small-business owner could improve economic-development efforts.

“I know finances, and that it takes a lot of cooperation to be successful and retain employees,” she said.

Robert A. Armstrong is most concerned not with what Council does, but with when and where it does it.

“I still think the meetings should be at a time when the public can attend,” he said, referring to Council's usual 8:30 a.m. schedule. Armstrong would also like to move Council meetings around the county so more people could attend. Armstrong also advocates a more line-by-line budget review “to find out where the fat is.”

He believes the county could save money on equipment and supplies through joint purchasing with the city and other governments. Armstrong said the long-delayed search for a new home for the Allen County Sheriff's Department shows the need for “more action than talk.”

Armstrong said the county should find a way to continue maintaining all bridges, fearing failure to do so may expose it - and taxpayers - to a lawsuit. And he would tighten standards for tax abatements to make sure companies that get incentives in exchange for investments and jobs live up to the bargain.

Armstrong said his commitment to neighborhoods would be an asset on Council.

To incumbent Roy Buskirk, Council's most important job next year will be to help keep and attract jobs - something he believes would improve the community in ways that transcend economics.

“It would reduce crime, which is a major drain on the county's budget,” Buskirk said, referring to the 70 percent of the budget going to the courts, jail and other criminal-justice activities. Buskirk wants to work with the Economic Development Alliance to create new jobs, but is especially interested in keeping the jobs already here.

The county has to make do with less, in part because of property tax reform. “We asked departments to reduce spending by 3.7 percent because of an anticipated loss (next year) of $4.3 million, and we pretty well did it,” he said. Buskirk supports a system of bonuses to reward exemplary employees.

Buskirk took the lead in the county's effort to maintain bridges through an increase in the wheel tax, and acknowledged disappointment over the plan's failure. He believes the legality of the county's refusal to maintain all but its own bridges after Jan. 1 needs to be clarified, and said the state may need to resolve the issue if local officials won't. Even so, Buskirk said he has maintained good relations with officials from the city and other governments.

Buskirk supports consolidation of some city and county services, including emergency communications, and said his rural background is valuable to a Council dominated by city residents.

Moss said the issues Council faces have changed since he joined the body four years ago, in large part because of the impact of state laws reforming the property tax system. But he considers the resulting loss of revenue more of an opportunity than a challenge.

“I can use the bully (Council) pulpit to make sure there is no tax increase,” said Moss, who believes the pressure to cut costs can induce Council to make county government even more efficient by asking, “What should local government do? Should the Board of Health be burdened with the cost of refugees? It's a philosophical issue.”

Despite Knuth's criticism of his support for the zoo, Moss said he stands by his earlier suggestion that Council financially support the institution. “What I said was that we should look at our priorities, and the zoo brings a lot of people and dollars to the community,” Moss said. “We still need to look at our priorities.”

Moss said he's pro-efficiency, not necessarily pro-consolidation - which means he would support merger of city and county services only if it produced better, more efficient government. “And we have few duplicative services left.”

Moss said Council should be more cautious in its use of tax abatements, making job creation a priority.

“With my experience in government and business, I won't have a learning curve,” Moss said. “It's my core belief that we're overtaxed, and I believe government should take as little of people's money as possible.”

Also running is Roger Manlove, who filed as a write-in candidate. Votes for him will be valid, although his name will not appear on the ballot.