Election 2026: Candidate for Washington Township Trustee Renée Mather

As the 2026 general election approaches, The Washington County Times is publishing written interviews with candidates in contested races affecting Washington County.

The Times reached out to all candidates for whom we were able to obtain contact information and invited them to participate. If you are a candidate in a contested race and have not received an invitation, please contact us so we can make sure you have an opportunity to participate.

Candidates were provided with questions tailored to their campaign, personal history, and the office they are seeking. We encouraged candidates to answer the questions in their own words and to refrain from using ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools when preparing their responses.

All candidate responses have been published as submitted, without editing or alteration. The Washington County Times does not endorse political candidates, and any opinions or statements expressed within the following interview are the candidate's own.

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For readers who may not be familiar with the position, how would you describe the primary responsibilities of a Township Trustee?

The township trustee helps eligible neighbors meet basic needs like housing, utilities, food, and other necessities when they are going through a hard time. The office also manages township money and property, keeps financial and public records, works with the township board, and has responsibilities involving cemetery care and fire protection.

To me, this comes down to being a good steward of what you have and understanding what it is there for.

In Washington Township’s 2023 report, I saw $39,380.72 in Township Assistance disbursements and a year-end balance of $395,153.16 in that fund. Those figures do not tell us everything about today’s needs or commitments, but they do make me want to understand how we are balancing reserves with helping people now.

I would study the guidelines, review the current finances, and work with the board to make sure we are using our resources responsibly and effectively. The money has a purpose, and the people it is meant to help need to know that help exists.

Can you tell us about your background and any experience that has prepared you to serve as Township Trustee?

I was raised in Salem, graduated from Salem High School, and am raising my family here. I’m a mother of five, a community organizer, and the founder of the Washington County Community Action Coalition a 501c3 and the Washington County Community Action Network a 501c4, both non-profits.

Through those organizations and the Town House, our community office in downtown Salem, I bring people together, share information, and help connect neighbors with resources. I have relationships with people involved in the warming station and other community efforts. My administrative and organizing roles have also given me experience keeping people informed, coordinating responsibilities, and following through.

Chris and I have needed township assistance ourselves. When Bryce Robinson, whom I went to church with when I was a youngin’, was trustee, we had to ask for help. It is a humbling experience, and I remember that. He never made us feel inferior for needing help, and that is important. You should be able to ask for help and keep your humanity and dignity.

Needing help does not mean you are abusing the system. Sometimes you are doing everything you can, and it still isn’t enough to get through that particular moment. I bring that understanding with me.

What motivated you to run for Township Trustee?

Jennifer Bowers, Monroe Township Trustee and Rhonda Greene talked with me about needs they were seeing and encouraged me to look into the office. I did, and the more I learned, the more I saw how closely it connects to the work I already do.

I have heard from people who felt discouraged about asking for assistance or felt like they shouldn’t ask. That bothers me. Asking for help is hard enough. People deserve to be treated with dignity, understand the process, and have their circumstances considered fairly.

“Love your neighbor as yourself,” from Mark 12:31, is something I believe we should put into practice. That includes our neighbors going through a tornado or fire, losing a job, or being stretched so thin they cannot afford basic necessities.

Everybody has bad days. Sometimes those days turn into difficult months. I want to help people get on their feet and stay on their feet. That is why I’m running.

How do you balance helping residents in need while also being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars?

Being a good steward means knowing what you have, understanding the rules, and using those resources for their intended purpose.

I would study the boundaries and guidelines, keep accurate records, and consider each application fairly. I would work with the township board to understand current needs, upcoming obligations, and what we need to keep in reserve.

I also believe we need to ask whether our resources are reaching the people they are intended to help. Keeping money in the bank is one part of planning, but appropriately helping a neighbor keep their lights on or stay in their home matters, too.

I would look for ways to coordinate with other organizations and make our resources go further. Helping people and protecting tax dollars are both part of doing this job well.

How would you approach transparency and accountability in the management of township funds and services?

I encourage people to look at the public record themselves. Look at the reports, what comes in, what goes out, and what remains in each fund. Ask questions. This is your money, and you deserve to understand how it is being used.

(You can find the township’s financial reports on Indiana Gateway: https://gateway.ifionline.org/

Choose “Search for Reports”, then look for “Annual Financial Reports.” Select:

• County: Washington

• Unit type: Township

• Unit: Washington Township

• Year: The year you want to review

Then look through “Cash and Investments,” “Detailed Receipts,” and “Detailed Disbursements.” You can’t hide facts.)

The report I have reviewed is from 2023. We have not yet located Washington Township’s 2025 report, and I would like to understand why we haven’t been able to find it. I want residents to have easy access to current information.

I would work with the board to make public meeting information, financial reports, and assistance guidelines easy to find and understand. I would share information in every lawful way I can while protecting the privacy of people asking for help.

I also want people to know about the less familiar parts of the office. For example, the trustee handbook includes authority to perform notarial acts without charging a fee. People cannot use a service they don’t know exists.

Being accountable means being willing to answer questions and show your work.

How do you plan to work with the Township Board, county officials, and community organizations to best serve residents?

Our township trustees need to work together, and working with my peers is something I would make a priority. That includes learning from other trustees and building relationships with the township board, city and county officials, the warming station, the food bank, and other community organizations.

Building bridges is what I do. We need to talk about the needs we are seeing, what resources are available, and where people are falling through the gaps.

Each township and organization has its own responsibilities, but we can still coordinate and learn from one another. If someone comes to me who lives in another township or needs something our office cannot provide, I want to help connect them with the right people and follow up when possible.

Someone already going through a hard time should not have to figure out the whole system alone.

What qualities or experiences do you believe may set you apart?

I’m a connector. I ask questions, bring people together, and look for ways to turn a conversation into something helpful.

I have already established a community office right in the center of Salem. The Town House gives people a place to come, ask questions, and connect with resources. If elected, I would work through the requirements to make trustee services available there, including a private space for sensitive conversations.

Whether someone has a home, is staying with friends, or is sleeping in a car, they deserve to be treated with dignity. People should feel welcome to ask for help and receive a fair explanation of what assistance may be available.

I bring my own experience of needing help, the relationships I have built, and the work I am already doing. I also understand that caring about people comes with the responsibility to learn the job, follow the rules, and take good care of public money.

Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share with township residents and Washington County voters?

Help me help you. That is what I keep coming back to.

Tell me what you need, what your neighborhood needs, and what you wish your township trustee understood. I want to listen and work with you.

This office serves our neighbors, regardless of their politics. Everyone deserves respect, clear information, and a fair opportunity to ask for help.

I believe anyone who asks to be trusted with a leadership role should be willing to lead whether they win the position or not. A leader leads anyway, and I will continue doing the work.

No matter who wins this election, our township trustee needs to be held accountable for serving our neighbors in need and being a good steward of the resources entrusted to the office.

Through our community work, we have seen needs going unmet and gaps that deserve attention. When people are trusted with the responsibility to serve, our community deserves follow-through. Where that responsibility is falling short, that is a wrong that needs to be righted, and I want to be part of making it right.