Ceann M. Bales (Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District, Indiana, candidate 2024)

Ceann M. Bales

Republican Party

Candidate, Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 7, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Purdue University, 1993

Graduate

Ball State University, 2001

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Nonprofit professional

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Ceann M. Bales (Republican Party) ran for election to the Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District in Indiana. She was on the ballot in the Republican primary on May 7, 2024.

Bales completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Ceann M. Bales provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on April 28, 2024:

• Birth date: April 26, 1971
• High school: Randolph Southern Jr. Sr. H.S.
• Bachelor's: Purdue University, 1993
• Graduate: Ball State University, 2001
• Gender: Female
• Religion: Christian
• Profession: Nonprofit Professional
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: It is time for Randolph County to stop expecting less and instead PURSUE MORE!
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

General election for Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District

Thomas Kerns ran in the general election for Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Thomas Kerns (R)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District

Ceann M. Bales, Deborah Glunt, and Thomas Kerns ran in the Republican primary for Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District on May 7, 2024.

		Candidate
		Ceann M. Bales
	Submit photo	Deborah Glunt
	Submit photo	Thomas Kerns

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bales in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ceann M. Bales completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bales' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Ceann believes it is time for Randolph County to stop expecting less and instead PURSUE MORE! Ceann Bales is a proven and trusted county-wide community leader who is skilled and ready to PURSUE MORE by delivering innovative approaches to ensure the growth and prosperity of Randolph County for years to come.

Ceann served as the CEO of the Randolph County YMCA for 21 years expanding Y programs to all 5 county schools and raising 3.2 million dollars to expand and enhance the Y's facilities, including building a licensed childcare center and renovating the Y's wellness center. Ceann served as the President/CEO of Randolph County United: An Economic Development, Chamber and Tourism Partnership for 2.5 years, merging the county's chamber and economic development offices to leverage the collective strength of the organizations while reducing administrative costs. Ceann also secured $500,000 in state grants to support area businesses during the pandemic.

Ceann holds a B.A. from Purdue University, a M.P.A from Ball State University and will graduate with a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University in December 2024 with a dissertation research focus of innovative rural economic development.

Ceann and her husband of 30 years, Brian Bales, own a small grain and cattle farm in rural Lynn and have two children, MacKenzie (Bales) Kennedy, and Braxton Bales. Ceann is also an active member of New Liberty Congregational Christian Church.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Ceann's understanding of rural community and economic development through her role with Randolph County United, and extensive research on innovative rural economic development through her Ph.D. program, equips Ceann with the knowledge and expertise needed to serve as an effective rural elected official.
• Ceann's extensive network across the state positions her to secure multiple funding opportunities to leverage support for the growth of Randolph County.
• Ceann's experience of growing up on a small family farm and now owning a small family grain and beef farm with my husband, allows Ceann to understand the importance of protecting and growing Randolph County's agricultural businesses.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ceann feels strongly for the need, and will push as your County Commissioner, to develop a spending/investment plan for the millions of dollars the county is receiving for the renewable energy projects (wind and solar farms). There is currently no such plan. Ceann's proposed plan includes establishing spending parameters for projects and most importantly includes the investment of a significant portion of the funds. The interest from the invested funds can then be used for economic development efforts to ensure the perpetual benefit for future generations.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ceann feels the most important characteristics of an elected official are: (1) integrity, (2) open and honest communicator, (3) collaborative, (4) innovator, (5) problem solver, and (6) empathetic.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

A key quality that will assist me in successfully serving as county commissioner is my 23 years of serving as a county-wide leader. This experience has provided me with the opportunity to build relationships with leaders across the county and provides me with an in-depth knowledge of the needs of the entire county and not just one community within the county. Another quality is that as a first-time elected official, I will add a new/fresh perspective and different kind of approach to identifying opportunities to grow our county.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Ceann feels the most critical responsibility of the commissioners is the creation of economic development programs to attract and retain jobs in the county. Ceann believes that Randolph County must stop expecting less and PURSURE MORE, and the commissioners, as the leaders of the county, must pursue more by embracing innovative rural economic and community development efforts!
Two additional core responsibilities of the county commissioners include overseeing all county property and the maintenance and construction of the county's roads and bridges.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Randolph County Commissioner Board Eastern District

Facebook