Election 2026: County Council District 3 Candidate Rebecca "Becky" White

Continuing with our “Election: 2026” series, this addition to our candidate interviews features District 3* County Council candidate Rebecca “Becky” White (R). Leading up to the primaries, we have continued to release candidate interviews in order to keep you informed as you make your way to the ballot box.

Publisher's Note: The Washington County Times does not endorse political candidates. Our mission is to provide balanced and informative coverage of local politics so our readers can make their own informed decisions at the ballot box. We aim to give all candidates a fair opportunity to share their views and connect with the community. This Q&A is part of that commitment to open, unbiased political reporting.

*District 3 covers Brown, Jefferson, Monroe, Vernon, Washington 3, Salem 3

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County Council District 3 Candidate Rebecca "Becky" White

• Can you tell us a little about yourself and your personal background?

My name is Rebecca “Becky” White, and I’m a life resident of Washington County. I’ve worked at WSLM Radio for 41 years. I’ve been married for more than 30 years and have six daughters and 15 grandchildren. I’ve been a Sunday school teacher, the first female member of the Salem Rotary Club, one of the first female broadcast owners in Indiana, a member of the Indiana Broadcasters Association Board of Directors and a six time winner of the IBA Community Service Award. I was honored to carry the torch during the Indiana bicentennial and have worked hard to ensure communication, honesty and transparency are part of everything I do.

• What motivated you to run for Washington County Council, and what skills or experience do you bring to the role?

I'm running for Washington County Council District 3 because I care about how the county operates and how tax dollars are spent. I’d like to be part of making smart decisions and help with the operation of our great county. With working together we can stay focused and make it even better. I’m ready to bring energy, common sense and a fresh perspective to the table. I’ve served on several boards locally and at the state level, earned several awards for community service, and been awarded the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year. As a member of the Salem Community School Board, I’ve learned fiscal responsibility, careful spending, leadership and how to be approachable, accessible and transparent.

• How would you describe the primary responsibilities of the County Council, and why is that role important to county residents?

The County Council is the fiscal body of the county government and they decide how taxpayer money is spent, fund the various departments, set salaries, and approve spending. The council creates ordinances and acts as oversight for all county departments. I feel it’s an important role because the council must make wise decisions to spend money, live within its means, and keep the tax rate low.

• What are some top issues facing Washington County right now, and how should the County Council address them?

Currently all cities and counties face the possibility of budget shortfalls due to Senate Enrolled Act 1. They will face financial challenges in trying to make up the shortfall either by cutting the budget or finding creative ways to maintain current funding levels without raising taxes. But also, ensuring county employees are still compensated for their hard work. The upcoming budget session this summer will be an extremely important time in our county’s history as we begin planning now to face the coming shortfall from the statewide reduction in property tax revenue.

• How do you approach budgeting and spending decisions, especially when resources are limited?

I fall back to raising a family of six daughters and basic principles of economy. You save a portion of your income, set some aside for mortgage and bills, use some for food and living expenses, and use a smaller portion for something fun. However, with public money you have to be totally clear on the numbers and see what’s coming in and what’s going out. You mix practicality with a little creativity. We have been able to work on projects for the past several years at Salem Schools without raising the tax rate. I think this approach would work well at the county level.

• How do you plan to stay open and informed about community needs and remain transparent and accessible to constituents if elected?

As you know, being a member of county government does not include a set of blinders. You serve on various boards and attend many other meetings. As a school board member, I talk to parents, grandparents and students as well as teachers and other staff to gauge what is important to them. I would do the same on the council, making myself accessible for taxpayers to reach me with concerns and issues and being completely transparent and bringing their concerns back to the council as a whole.

• What does success look like to you at the end of a four-year term on the Washington County Council?

I would consider the term successful if the council were to be able to provide excellent services to the county as well as to the employees, keeping the budget on par and not raising taxes for our fine residents. And being a good listener, I pledge to bring concerns and ideas back to the council for their consideration.

• What do you believe sets you apart from your opponents in this election?

As I said earlier, I’ve had a successful track record on the Salem School Board for 12 years in helping to retain staff and provide needed renovations to the school buildings and grounds while keeping our tax rate from increasing. I’ve served on local and state boards, been an advocate for the county’s youth and have volunteered in the community and at church. Through my business, I feel like I have helped serve our community for the past 41 years.

• Are there any other thoughts you would like to leave with our readers?

I would appreciate your vote for County Council District 3. I believe I will work hard for not only the district but for the whole county. I’m your friend, neighbor and advocate for a better tomorrow and more common sense decision making. I’ve invested in our community and hope to communicate to the public about challenges and ways to resolve them so they can support our decisions and better understand the local government process. I believe in honesty and transparency and keeping the public in the know about what goes on with county government.