May, Bunch seeking nod for Jay County Council District 1 - The Commercial Review

A first-term Jay County Council member is facing a challenge from a first-time candidate. In the race for the Republican nomination for the Jay County Council District 1 seat on county council, incumbent Randy May is facing Roy Bunch in the primary. Early voting is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the auditorium at Jay County Courthouse. Election Day is Tuesday, May 5. Bunch, a consultant with Bunch Consulting, graduated from Jay County High School in 1981 and Ball State University in 1985. He has served on the Jay County Regional Sewer District board and Dunkirk Glass Days Committee, as well as president of the Dunkirk Junior League board. May, who is retired, graduated from Redkey High School in 1974 and Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1985. He served as Redkey’s town marshal for 13 years and spent a term on Redkey Town Council before being elected to county council in 2022. May is a Redkey resident and Bunch is a rural Redkey resident. Both candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire from The Commercial Review. Their answers follow. Local government units are preparing for the effect of changes to state tax structure made in 2025’s Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 1. If elected to the county council, what would you do to help ensure the county is fiscally sound moving forward? Bunch: Gov. Mike Braun recently approved a delay for 2025 Senate Enrolled Act 1, moving the Local Income Tax (LIT) reduction to 2029. While this changes the immediate timeline for local government revenue, it highlights the need for proactive financial planning. A three-year fiscal roadmap needs to be made to ensure that essential community services remain fully funded. By prioritizing core needs now, we can manage the upcoming tax transition without compromising the quality of service our residents expect. May: I would place restrictions on spending for each department to maintain the budget. And when we find out what the changes are, we may be able to take off the restrictions. Other than the above, what is the most important issue facing county council and what, specifically, would you do to address it? Bunch: Jay County is currently trapped in a cycle where a long-term population decline — down 15% since 1970 — is being worsened by a critical housing shortage. The lack of new residential development since the 1990s makes it difficult to attract the workforce needed to reverse this trend. One way to address this issue is to work with the local municipalities to donate or develop open lots in each community that are no longer on the tax rolls. This potentially brings in new population and increases the tax base as these lots are developed. May: Affordable housing all over Jay County. Sixty percent of our workforce live out of the county. Those tax dollars go to the county they live in. We need to keep our working people here so we can get those tax dollars. What sets you apart from the other candidate(s) in this primary election and why should residents of Jay County vote for you? Bunch: My experience in the business world combined with my local involvement in the District 1 community is what sets me apart. While leading the Midwest Area for Kellogg’s and later the entire U.S. for Quorn Foods, I was responsible for budgeting, strategic planning and marketing. Writing strategic plans was common to ensure growth while staying within budget. Over the last 30 years, I have been involved with various programs and boards in the community. My wife and I raised our three daughters in District 1. I want to see Jay County grow and be a great place to live. May: I enjoy serving District 1. I will do what the voters want. They said they did not want solar panels. I voted no on solar panels coming to Richland Township. I love the small community that I live in and I will stand up for District 1 and work hard for all the people. Tags Jay County County Council Republican Primary Randy May Roy Bunch Top 3 Local organization building home to help Portland family Jay County High School dedicating press box to Rob Weaver Portland man charged in court with murder for son’s death Portland’s Rick Gibson takes an Honor Flight to D.C. Hayden Grody was remembered with candlelight vigil Sunday Local Events Latest e-Edition Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026 To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. Weather Currently in Portland 53° 72° / 42° 3 AM 52° 4 AM 51° 5 AM 51° 6 AM 50° 7 AM 51°