Lt. Governor’s Staff Holds Mobile Office Hours in Salem

Two staff members from the office of Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith visited Salem City Hall on Wednesday, July 2, as part of a series of mobile office hours held across the state this week. The visit, according to a press release, was "part of his commitment to open government and direct engagement with constituents".

Anthony Simons (left) and Tyson Priest (right) hear from a concerned citizen.

The Salem stop took place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Hall on East Market Street. No appointments were necessary, and the public was invited to speak with representatives from the office. Roughly two dozen Washington County residents took the opportunity to share concerns ranging from local government practices to broader state-level policy issues.

Staff members Tyson Priest and Anthony Simons were on hand to meet with constituents. Each person who spoke with them was asked to fill out a written form outlining their concerns.

“We take these forms, we'll take a look at them — we have some other people on our team as well — so when we get back to the office, we'll kind of collaborate and see what issues are going on there,” Simons explained. “A lot of times we’re going to cut through that bureaucracy and talk with the heads of the agencies and departments, because the Lieutenant Governor has the authority to cut through that and get to the heads of these departments. So we’ll talk with them and see if they can help us out in getting this moved forward, whatever it may be, and get the answers we need. And once we have the information, then we’ll circle back and get back with the people with any updates and if we’re able to resolve the issues.”

Several topics were raised during the event, including questions surrounding the legal operations of the county’s Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, calls for increased government accountability and transparency through open door laws, concerns about governmental overreach and the separation of church and state,  pros and cons to dissolving townships in the interest of government efficiency, and alleged conflicts of interest involving local wrecker services.

Stand of Solidarity picnic

Across the parking lot, a group of community members organized what they called a “Stand of Solidarity Picnic,” which invited conversation around concerns some locals had with state leadership. Organizer Renee Mather said the gathering was not a protest, but a peaceful invitation to broaden the dialogue.

Near the end of the event, a few picnic participants entered City Hall to speak directly with the Lt. Governor’s staff. Their conversation centered on the need for improved access to voting IDs for college students, funding support for a local tree board, and new opportunities for youth in the community, including interest in developing a public pool or other recreational activities. Although the perspectives of the two groups varied, the interactions remained mutually respectful and constructive.

The Salem stop followed similar mobile office hours held earlier in the week in Clay and Tipton counties. According to Beckwith’s office, the initiative is part of an effort to hear directly from residents across Indiana.

"Meeting face-to-face with community members is vital," Lieutenant Governor Beckwith said in a press release. "We look forward to listening to your concerns and working together to build a brighter future for Indiana."