Councilman Mikeal Vaughn

Fiscal Watchdog. True Conservative.

Republican Councilman At-Large for Madison County Council, Indiana

Councilman Mikeal Vaughn, Madison County, Indiana, 2021‒

Actual Voting Record

  • A fiscal watchdog over Madison County finances
  • Will continue to support real public safety, like more deputies on the streets and 911 dispatch center
  • Worked with Sheriff Beeman to provide patrol officers’ vehicles with bulletproof windshields for their safety
  • With our county 911 dispatch center in dire need of funding, voted to appropriate $400,000 more for 2024, because the commissioners ignored the problems for nine years (2015-2024) since 911 was consolidated
  • For the 3rd year in a row, several county council members broke the Open Door Law by cutting the budget behind closed doors and making backroom deals (The ODL requires that budget cuts be made during meetings open to the public.)
  • Will continue to support plans to hire more patrol officers and expand our Drug Task Force in the midst of hard drugs flooding our communities
  • Will continue to work with county officeholders and department heads to eliminate wasteful spending
  • Support investing and spending tax dollars in ways that benefit taxpayers — and not political friends or groups for personal agendas
Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies in training

Supports Real Public Safety

My goal for 2024 is to put more law enforcement officers on the streets.

We know crime is rising, which is why we need to continue safety training for officers. We could use additional patrol officers on our streets to keep our community safe. This is Real Public Safety.

I strongly support Real Public Safety, because we need to keep our neighborhoods nice and safe from crime. With the flood of hard drugs entering our community, I support the sheriff’s plan to expand our Drug Task Force and hire more deputies to patrol our streets.

Bulletproof glass in sheriff’s department vehicles is the least we can do for our patrol officers’ safety. In January 2023, I worked hand-in-hand with Sheriff Beeman in spearheading this effort to install protective glass for 40 of Madison County’s patrol units.

Sources:
• Anderson Herald Bulletin, “Councilman wants bulletproof windshields on patrol cars,” Jan. 10, 2023
• Anderson Herald Bulletin, “Sheriff’s vehicles to get bulletproof windshields,” Feb. 14, 2023

Among 92 Indiana counties, Madison County ranks in the Top 25% for highest property tax rate.

Real Budgets

I will only support real budgets that department heads should stick to all year. Only for dire emergencies should new money requests be honored.

We can’t continue to raise taxes on seniors with fixed incomes or on young, struggling families.

Sources:
• Anderson Herald Bulletin, “County Council to get public input on tax increase,” Oct. 11, 2021

• Anderson Herald Bulletin, “Transparency critical on how new tax revenues are utilized,” Oct. 30, 2021

Deteriorating roads are a Quality of Life issue and must be promptly fixed to maintain the attractiveness of our county for business and living.

County Road Paving

I am working to get more roads paved more often. The County Council can appropriate additional funds for road paving. The Rainy Day fund is maxed out at record levels. Some of that money could be used on paving roads. The public wants more roads paved, and I will make good roads a top priority.