GREENFIELD — A lifelong Hancock County resident whose family has strong ties to public service is vying for his fourth consecutive term on the Greenfield City Council.
Kerry Grass, 54, plans to run again as the representative for District 5 in Greenfield. Grass, a Republican, has spent three of his 11 years on the council as president pro tem. He was first elected to the city council in 2007, and is currently unopposed for the position in both this year’s primary and general election. The deadline to file for the primary is noon on Friday.
Grass, who has worked 29 years as a firefighter for the Pike Township Fire Department in Indianapolis, said he’s proud of the city council’s effort to maintain balanced budgets and working to improve the quality of life in Greenfield. He cites trails, park improvements and a splash pad at the city pool as examples.
“Each citizen of the city has to work within their budget, and I think the city needs to work within their budget, also," Grass said, adding the city council should be "good stewards" of taxpayer money.
If re-elected, Grass said he would look at ways to not only bring new people to Greenfield through job creation, but retain residents as the city continues to enhance its amenities.
Grass said he also aims to focus on increasing public safety staffing as funds become available. The Greenfield Fire Territory has been understaffed and strapped for cash for years. Members of the firefighter union last year asked the city council for additional employees; the council paid a consultant nearly $35,000 for a needs assessment of the department, looking at staffing and resource concerns.
The fire territory needs to maintain adequate staffing as the area continues to grow, Grass said, saying he will also support the Greenfield Police Department’s effort to combat crime and the ongoing drug epidemic.
Public safety and government service extends two generations in the Grass family. Grass’s father, Malcolm Grass, was Hancock County sheriff and was killed in the line of duty in 1986. His mother, Carolyn Grass, served as Hancock County clerk and recorder.
“Giving back to the city is huge for me," he said.
Grass has served as chair or co-chair of the city’s budget committee during his three terms in office and has been a member of the utilities committee and Hancock Economic Development Council board.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”THE GRASS FILE” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 54
Party: Republican
Political experience: Greenfield City Council, 2008-present
Occupation: Pike Township firefigher
Family: Wife Beth Ann, three children
[sc:pullout-text-end]
