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Howard County Commissioner Jack Dodd is announcing his intent to seek re-election to the office. The recently-appointed president of the board of commissioners will see his current term end at the conclusion of 2024.

In making the announcement, Dodd highlighted some of the successes achieved during his first term through the use of federal pandemic dollars from the American Rescue Plant Act (ARPA).

“We have accomplished many great things during the last four years,” said Dodd. “We have administered (ARPA) to finish many projects around the county in lieu of using county tax funds. Some of these projects included renovating the courthouse, replacing HVAC systems, improvements at the Seiberling Mansion, Work Release, Kinsey Center, subsidizing a Job Training Center at Ivy Tech, purchasing more county highway equipment, renovating Howard Haven, working to reduce the amount of paper records through digitization, and also to establish a broadband of fiber optic to the outer edges of the county, including all four county school systems.”

In addition to serving on the board of commissioners, Dodd has served on the board of directors for the Indiana County Commissioners Association. He also sat on the advisory board for the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), and last year served as a member of the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council for Cass, Clinton, Fulton, Howard, Miami, and Tipton Counties. He also serves on several local community boards.

“I have gained valuable experience that benefits all of Howard County,” said Dodd. “While we still have many challenges ahead of us, we have many great opportunities in the next four years. With the growth that Howard County is seeing and will continue to experience, proven and experienced leadership as a commissioner will be necessary, even vital.

“I am that person. I want to help lead Howard County to meet those challenges and exceed those opportunities. I look forward to serving Howard County.”

Dodd first entered local government as the human resources director for the City of Kokomo under Mayor Matt McKillip, from 2004-2007. After several years living and working in Yuma, Ariz., Dodd returned to his home county and became active in the local Republican Party. Dodd first won election in 2020 as a county commissioner, representing the middle third of Howard County, including all of Kokomo, in the commissioners’ 2nd District.