Mike McFarland, 59, of 921 St. Leonard’s Lane in Tipp City has announced that he is running for Tipp City Council. A long-time resident of Tipp City, and 1970 Graduate of Tippecanoe High School, McFarland has been employed by Tipp Machine & Tool for almost 40 years serving the past 26 years as purchasing agent. He is currently a member of the Planning Board, having served multiple terms as its Chairman. He is also the Planning Board representative on the Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council.
“I am a small government, fiscally conservative citizen who is committed to my community, and concerned about how taxpayer dollars are spent. ” McFarland stated as he submitted paperwork to the Board of Elections. He went on to state that his business experience in purchasing and acquisition allows him to bring a keen eye to the City’s budgetary process. “I have had to watch the bottom-line for my company for years. I know how to do this and will bring this approach to City Council” McFarland said. The Board of Elections will announce whether McFarland’s petitions are valid , and thus makes him eligible to be on the November ballot, within the next few weeks. While Tipp City Council is a non-partisan race, McFarland is registered with the Board of Elections as a Republican. In addition to his work on the Planning Board, McFarland was appointed by Council to the Citizens Capital Improvement Plan Review Committee in 2010. This all-citizen group was called upon by City Council to establish and make recommendations concerning the City’s 10-year Capital Improvement Plan for repairing roads, acquiring equipment and vehicles, and other improvements to the City. This is McFarland’s second run for City Council, having unsuccessfully tried in 2007. He states that Council health insurance, taxes, and spending are high priorities for him, and in particular has vowed not to accept the City’s health insurance if elected. “This alone will save the city close to $20,000.00 a year.” Health insurance was an issue in the 2009 election when some candidates pledged not to take the City-offered health insurance, which is currently available to sitting Council Members. The issue surfaced again in 2011 when Councilman Joe Gibson proposed to eliminate the health insurance plan for City Council Members. The measure failed by a 4 to 3 vote.
McFarland is married to Patti, his wife of 25 years and has three step-children.
