Indy Central

Brent DeHart, candidate for Independence City Council Position 2, joins Dana Sharman for a conversation about park closures, city finances, and the priorities he would bring to council.

A former Salem city councilor and business owner, Brent shares his views on keeping Riverview Park open, putting new fees before voters, and encouraging housing and industrial development. We discuss system development charges, urban renewal debt, the museum’s funding and operation, and the responsibilities of the City Council and city manager.

Brent also talks about his civic background, Salem Aviation, and efforts to bring commercial airline service to Salem. Throughout the conversation, he explains how he would approach disagreements, budget decisions, and public service in Independence.

Indy Central features conversations with the people shaping Independence, Oregon.

Former Independence city manager and City Council candidate Greg Ellis joins me to talk through the city’s budget, the $20 fee for parks, the library and museum, and the decisions that led to the current debate.

We start with urban renewal and how Greg approached financing the civic center, then discuss staffing costs, housing development, SDCs and the effect of city fees on renters. Greg shares his perspective on the referendum and park closures, while we work through the differences between interfund loans, transfers and allocating staff costs across utility funds.

We also discuss the water treatment project, population forecasts, water rates and what an individual city councilor can actually change. Toward the end, we talk about staying civil through disagreements and a Facebook post Greg says he regrets.

Hosted by Dana Sharman. Indy Central features conversations with the people involved in Independence, Oregon, and the issues shaping our community.

What should city council do when residents want public services kept open but disagree about how to pay for them?

In episode 8 of Indy Central, I sit down with Anthony Johnson, a candidate for Independence, Oregon City Council Position 4. Anthony shares how he came to Independence, his background in manufacturing, and what led him to run for office.

We discuss the proposed fee for parks, the library, and the museum; alternatives for funding those services; housing affordability; traffic safety; and how the city communicates with residents. I also ask how he would approach staffing cuts, work with other councilors, and respond if voters reject the fee.

Along the way, we talk about family, recovery, community involvement, and the changes Independence has seen over the years. It’s a chance to get to know Anthony beyond his campaign signs and hear how he thinks through the decisions facing our town.

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Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03474BbyXULeDZBKw83hP7?si=zxCdZkXlTg-F_Bvym_HPDQ

Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indy-central/id6801572922

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@indycentraltv

Oregon State Representative Paul Evans joins me to talk about growing up in Monmouth, serving in the military, and the work of representing House District 20.

Paul shares how he got elected to city council at 18, later became mayor, and returned to public office after his time in the Air Force. We get into what a state representative actually does, the challenges of Oregon's citizen legislature, and his concerns about both major political parties. We also discuss Trump, social media, transportation, and how the cost of college affects people's ability to buy a home and build a life.

We finish closer to home with Independence's library and parks, the city's financial pressures, and Paul's proposal for temporary state support when a referendum interrupts expected funding. We also talk about Monmouth's urban growth boundary and the role of state government in helping communities make their own decisions.

What should Independence residents expect from their city—and what should they be expected to pay for?

In episode 7 of Indy Central, I sit down with Independence City Councilor Evan Sorce to talk about park closures, the Heritage Museum sale, and the proposed community services fee. I ask whether money from the museum sale could help keep parks open, how council weighs staff advice against community priorities, and why getting a clear picture of the city budget has been so difficult.

We also talk about the library, city debt and interfund loans, recruiting businesses, and system development charges: what they pay for and whether their cost is holding Independence back.

We don’t agree on everything. But the conversation keeps coming back to public trust, asking better questions, and remembering that the people on the other side of a local disagreement are still our neighbors.

Why does Michael Hicks want to return to Independence City Council—and what would he bring back with him?

Michael joins Dana Sharman to discuss his previous council decisions, his views on city funding, and his priorities for parks, the library, and the museum. He also shares his path through teaching in China, philosophy, and law school, along with memories of his daughter Winnie and the community that supported his family.

Get to know the person behind the candidacy on Indy Central.

Before Shannon Corr was an Independence City Councilor, she had already lived a life that took her around the world and inside some unusual places.

Born in Germany and raised in a military family, Shannon spent years overseas before eventually working for the Defense Intelligence Agency and at the Pentagon. In Episode 5 of Indy Central, we talk about the experiences that shaped her long before she entered local government — and the path that eventually brought her to Independence.

Shannon shares stories from her intelligence career, her personal connection to 9/11, an unforgettable CIA interview, and how those experiences shaped her views on surveillance and privacy. We also talk about finding a home in Independence, getting involved in the community, serving on City Council, and what she believes city leaders should learn from the recent park closures.

This is Shannon Corr beyond the title — the experiences, values and stories behind one of the people making decisions in Independence.

Who is Kate Schwarzler beyond the title of Mayor?

In this episode of Indy Central, I sit down with Independence Mayor Kate Schwarzler to talk about the path that took her from growing up in tiny Alsea, Oregon, to landscape architecture, work around the country and overseas, entrepreneurship, economic development, and eventually the mayor's office in Independence.

Kate talks about growing up in a graduating class of just 18 students, watching the economic challenges facing Oregon's timber communities, building businesses, teaching entrepreneurship at Western Oregon University, and the unlikely series of volunteer positions that eventually pulled her into local politics.

We also talk about the future of Independence, growth and development, rural economic opportunity, the role of libraries and parks in a community, and what Kate hopes the city will look like 15 years from now.

And, with Independence in the middle of an unusually contentious debate over parks, the library, museum, city finances and the community services fee, we spend part of the conversation discussing those issues as well—including the referendum, park closures, city debt, utility funds, deferred maintenance, SDCs, and why Kate believes the city is making the decisions it is making.

Indy Central is a long-form interview podcast focused on the people who help shape Independence, Oregon—their lives, experiences, ideas and the paths that brought them here.

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In Episode 3 of Indy Central, Dana sits down with Independence City Councilor Dawn Hedrick-Roden for a wide-ranging conversation about her life, her roots in Independence, and the challenges facing the community today.

A lifelong Independence resident with family ties stretching back to the earliest days of the city, Dawn shares how military service, teaching, raising a family, volunteering, and a community effort to build a local park eventually led her to public service — and to a City Council election decided by a single vote.

The conversation turns to how Independence has changed over the decades, the revitalization of downtown, the importance of local businesses and community spaces, and the financial decisions that helped shape the city we see today.

Dawn also discusses the current debate over city fees, the closure of parks and other community services, interfund loans, city debt, infrastructure spending, SDCs, police funding, and why she believes the city should explore alternatives before asking residents to pay more.

Along the way, we talk about finding common ground with people we disagree with, the difficulty of governing a growing city, and what Independence risks losing when places like its parks and library disappear.

Indy Central is a long-form local podcast about the people, stories, ideas, and issues that shape Independence and the surrounding community.

Make sure to like and subscribe to support the channel!

In this episode of Indy Central, I sit down with Independence mayoral candidate Barrett Nutsch to talk about why he's running, his background in business and aviation, and what he believes needs to change at City Hall.

We discuss Independence's financial challenges, the debate over funding the library, museum and parks, city staffing and administrative costs, development fees, water and wastewater infrastructure, downtown development, public safety, and what sustainable growth could look like for the city.

Barrett also shares his personal history in Independence—from managing a struggling local storage business to working as an aircraft mechanic, flight instructor and small business owner—and explains how those experiences have shaped his approach to city government.

It's a wide-ranging conversation about the choices facing Independence, what the role of the mayor should be, and Barrett's case for why voters should choose him in November.