Meet the Candidates: Larry LT Thompson
Candidates for the Vigo County Council and Commissioner primaries completed the following questionnaires. The responses have not been edited in any way.
The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce is committed to fostering a strong business climate and a thriving community in Vigo County. As the County Council and County Commissioners play a critical role in shaping the fiscal and policy environment that affects businesses, residents and quality of life across our region, the Chamber believes it is important for voters to understand where candidates stand on the issues that matter most.
The following questionnaire has been developed to help Chamber members and their employees evaluate candidates seeking seats on the Vigo County Council and those running for Vigo County Commissioner. We appreciate each candidate's willingness to participate and encourage thoughtful, specific responses that reflect their vision, experience and priorities for Vigo County's future.
Name: Larry LT Thompson (D - District 4)
Question: What steps have you taken to prepare yourself for the position for which you are running? (This could include reviewing Robert’s Rules of Order, participating in the West Central Indiana Civic Engagement series, attending and/or watching applicable meetings, etc…)
Answer: As a Project Engineer, I am professionally trained to master the specifications before any work begins. To prepare for this role, I have consistently attended Vigo County Council meetings or viewed the online when unable to make it in person, to understand the current fiscal climate and the procedural flow of our local government. I have also begun a dive into the county budget to identify specific areas where proactive management can replace the reactive spending we often see. However, technical data is only half the story. My seventeen years of service as a coach and volunteer have given me a ground level view of the needs in District 4 that a spreadsheet alone cannot provide. I am not just studying the numbers; I am listening to the people they affect.
Question: What expectations do you have for yourself or for others as elected officials, especially as it pertains to how meetings are to be conducted, your role in state/government functions and overall professionalism?
Answer: I expect a high standard of professional discipline from myself and my colleagues. Meetings must be conducted with full transparency and strictly adhere to established procedural rules to ensure every voice is heard and every decision is documented. My role is to be a steward of taxpayer dollars. That responsibility requires common sense leadership, bipartisan collaboration, and a commitment to practical, solution based scrutiny during the decision making process. Professionalism means showing up prepared, treating every colleague and constituent with respect, and ensuring that our government functions remain efficient and predictable for the business community.
Question: As a member of the County Council or as a Commissioner, what are the top 3-5 community priorities would you consider in how to best utilize the County's resources, including its cash reserves.
Answer: Infrastructure and Smart Growth: Ensuring our roads and drainage systems support both our current residents and future commercial development. Public Safety and Jail Oversight: We must address the overcrowding at the Vigo County Jail by supporting community corrections programs and ensuring our first responders have the resources they need. Fiscal Accountability: Utilizing our cash reserves as a strategic tool for long term stability rather than a fallback for reactive spending. Quality of Life: Investing in projects that make Vigo County a place where families and professional talent want to stay.
Question: Are you familiar with the See You in Terre Haute Community Plan and its vision for our future?
Answer: Yes
Question: Do you believe Terre Haute–Vigo County has improved over the past five years?
Answer: Yes
Question: What do you feel could make Vigo County more attractive to employers compared to other regions around the state and what role could you play in bringing these ideas to reality as a member of the County Council or as a Commissioner?
Answer: Employers look for regions where they see professional stability and a clear vision for growth. While the County Council does not manage the school system directly, we are responsible for the economic environment that surrounds it. As a Council member, I will use my engineering background to ensure our county infrastructure projects, like the roads and drainage systems that serve our industrial parks and neighborhoods, are managed with professional discipline. By providing a predictable and well managed local government while supporting high quality public safety, we create a community where employees want to live and businesses want to invest. My role is to ensure the county house is in order. This provides the stable tax base and infrastructure necessary for our schools and businesses to thrive
Question: Do you agree with granting tax abatements to Companies as an enticement to attracting more business and jobs to our community?
Answer: Yes
Question: Why do you agree or disagree with tax abatements? And what stipulations/parameters would you like to see included?
Answer: I agree with tax abatements as a strategic tool for growth. I believe in performance-based abatements. We should include clear clawback provisions and benchmarks for job creation, wage floors, and local capital investment. Abatements shouldn't be a "blank check", they should be a transparent contract where the county and the business both benefit from a clear ROI.
Question: Do you believe the current school facilities in Vigo County adequately serve students, teachers and the broader community?
Answer: No
Question: Please explain your Answer regarding school facilities, including any additional information you would like to know.
Answer: Our current school facilities are aging, and the rising cost of emergency and general maintenance is a drain on resources. To attract new families and professional talent to Vigo County, our community needs a modern educational footprint. I support a path forward with a consolidated high school plan because it is a practical solution to a long-term problem. Consolidating allows for safer, state-of-the-art facilities that are more efficient to operate than multiple failing structures. A modernized school system is a primary driver for the property values and economic growth that the County Council is tasked with protecting.
Question: Do you support the existence of the Vigo County Oversight Board as a mechanism for fiscal accountability?
Answer: Yes
Question: Please explain your Answer regarding the Oversight Board, including any additional information you would like to know.
Answer: As a project engineer, I understand that you cannot manage what you do not measure. I support the Oversight Board because it serves as a critical second set of eyes on how taxpayer dollars are allocated and spent. Fiscal accountability is not about red tape; it is about ensuring that every project has a clear return on investment for our community. Having a dedicated board to review financial decisions provides a layer of transparency that builds public trust and ensures our county resources are being used effectively. It is a practical, common sense tool that helps us stay on budget and remain accountable to the people of Vigo County.
Question: Do you support the Vigo County Council committing funds towards a new high school?
Answer: Yes
Question: Please explain your Answer regarding the County committing funds to a new high school.
Answer: Education is the foundation of economic development. While the School Corporation and the County are separate entities, the health of one affects the other. I believe the County should be a supportive partner in this progress, provided the path forward is fiscally responsible. I support the County assisting with a consolidated high school project only if the plan is transparent, legally sound, and includes clear financial benchmarks. My priority is ensuring that any partnership is a win for the taxpayer and does not jeopardize our ability to fund essential county services like public safety and infrastructure.
Question: What financial benchmarks or conditions, if any, would need to be met before you would support committing County funds to the school corporation for this project?
Answer: Before committing funds, I would require a Project Management level of detail: a finalized, transparent budget; a clear timeline for completion; and a documented plan for how the School Corporation will manage operational costs moving forward. We must ensure that the county's contribution is a "finishing piece" of a solid financial puzzle, not a stop-gap for an incomplete plan.
Question: Are you familiar with the West Central Indiana Regional Plan and its priorities?
Answer: Yes
Question: West Central Indiana communities (Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties) are increasingly working together to strengthen the regional economy, attract talent and improve quality of life. What opportunities do you see for Vigo County to collaborate with neighboring counties to strengthen the regional economy?
Answer: We should view our region as a Grid of Growth. By collaborating on regional infrastructure (like water and broadband) and talent attraction initiatives, we can compete for larger-scale employers that might overlook a single county. We can share resources for regional marketing and work together to make West Central Indiana a destination for the high-tech and logistics sectors.
