Power Structure of Carroll County

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Power StructureofCarroll County

• Brennon Sapp

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Definitions and Terms

• Elite Power is a dominance from position in the
  community.
• Pluralistic Power is a result of several
  components.
• Amorphous Power is latent or unforeseen power
  which is exercised only when agitated or rallied
  to a cause.

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Definitions and Terms

• Old Money refers to a person whose family has
  had wealth for more than one generation.
• A Native is someone who was born and raised in
  the county.

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Power Specifics

• According to all sources the two most powerful
  people in the county are Jim Crawford and Ruth
  Baxter.
• Both are attorneys
• Moved into Carroll Co. in the late 1970s from
  Eastern KY
• Married, no children
• Founders of the Excellence for Education
  Foundation which issues grants and scholarships
  in the community
• All the community's problems stem from the
  school. If the school resolves their problems,
  then the community would follow.
• Jim is the Commonwealth Attorney and the Board
  Attorney
• Tend to be relentless in their pursuits

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Power Specifics

• Nancy Jo Grub Meyer, a long-standing native, is
  on the second tier of the power structure.
• Currently serves on the city council
• Focuses a lot of energy on Historic Preservation
• Performs an unprecedented amount of volunteer
  work throughout the community
• Lost her husband several years ago in a tragic
  car accident
• Raised five kids in Carroll County as a single
  mother
• Local piano teacher
• Strong Catholic
• Currently has two children who are teaching in
  the Carroll County School system

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Power Specifics

• Harold Shorty Tomlinson, a long standing
  native, is on the second tier of the power
  structure.
• Currently the Carroll County Judge-Executive
• Received the nick name Shorty while playing
  ball at Carroll Co. HS (most people in the
  community dont know his real name)
• Went into the local industry straight out of high
  school
• Became the judge-exec several years ago, but
  raised taxes too much too fast and was soon
  ousted
• Went back to industry, was then encouraged by the
  community to get back into politics

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Power Specifics

• Clay Cable, a native, is on the second tier of
  the power structure.
• Current Chairman of the Board of Education
• Has a strong desire to improve the educational
  quality of Carroll County schools
• Worked in the local industry for many years
• Currently works as a maintenance man at a local
  park, which allows him to be more active in the
  educational system
• Seen by most of the community as a good ol boy
• Currently has two kids within the Carroll County
  school system

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Power Specifics

• Anne Dithridge, a native, receives an honorable
  mention in the power structure.
• Retired from teaching Home Economics after 30
  years
• Served on the City Council
• Has been the mayor of Carrollton since 1992
• Anne and her former husband ran a successful
  convenient store
• Comes from Old Money
• Family has a long-standing history of service to
  the community
• Currently has many grandchildren attending the
  Carroll County School system
• Seen by the community as a fun loving, pleasant
  mayor

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Power Specifics

• Mike Wilhoit, a young native, gets an honorable
  mention in the power structure.
• Current Police Chief in Carrollton
• Father runs a local auto garage
• Mother passed away while he was in high school
• EKU graduate (law enforcement)
• Seen by the community as
• Good Role Model
• Eager
• Over-achiever
• Willing to do anything to help anyone

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Power Specifics

• Sharon Boyde, a native, gets an honorable mention
  in the power structure.
• An elegant lady, serves as the Carrollton
  librarian
• Lives in the historic section of town and is
  concerned with the preservation of her
  neighborhood
• Was able to get a library tax approved in 1985
  which allowed for a state of the art library in
  downtown Carrollton
• Has implemented and maintained top-notch program,
  both local and recruited, at the local library
• No kids

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Power Specifics

• Laman Stark, a native, receives an honorable
  mention in the power structure.
• Currently serves as the Carroll Co. court clerk
• Is a second-generation county court clerk
• Former police chief (took the job to change the
  community)
• Graduate of EKU (law enforcement)
• Big supporter of all school programs and events
• Wife teaches at Carroll County Middle School
• Son is a tri-sport athlete at Carroll Co. HS

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Power Structure
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Amorphous Power Religion

• With over twenty churches of varying
  denominations, Carroll County has an untapped
  power source. When united behind a cause these
  churches can be a significant power, but have
  rarely exercised their power.

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Amorphous Power Industry

• With thirteen major factories supplying more than
  2000 jobs to the community, these industries
  could wield quite a bit of power. However, they
  have chosen to exercise financial support of
  schools rather than exert political power.

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Amorphous Power Democrats

• An overwhelming percentage of the county belong
  to the Democratic party. In fact, the local
  paper is the The News-Democrat. Although the
  community is quite conservative in personal and
  religious beliefs, they are strong supporters of
  Democratic ideals.

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• Brennon Sapp
• bsapp_at_bellsouth.net
• Indiana University Southeast
• Summer 2005