Power StructurePower Structureofof

Carroll CountyCarroll County

Brennon SappBrennon Sapp

Definitions and TermsDefinitions and Terms

Elite PowerElite Power is a dominance from is a dominance from position in the community.position in the community.

Pluralistic PowerPluralistic Power is a result of several is a result of several components.components.

Amorphous PowerAmorphous Power is latent or is latent or unforeseen power which is exercised unforeseen power which is exercised only when agitated or rallied to a only when agitated or rallied to a cause.cause.

““Old Money”Old Money” refers to a person refers to a person whose family has had wealth for whose family has had wealth for more than one generation.more than one generation.

A A NativeNative is someone who was born is someone who was born and raised in the county.and raised in the county.

Definitions and TermsDefinitions and Terms

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsAccording to all sources the two most powerful According to all sources the two most powerful people in the county are people in the county are Jim CrawfordJim Crawford and and Ruth Ruth

BaxterBaxter..

Both are attorneys Both are attorneys Moved into Carroll Co. in the late 1970s from Eastern Moved into Carroll Co. in the late 1970s from Eastern KYKY

Married, no childrenMarried, no childrenFounders of the Founders of the Excellence for Education Foundation Excellence for Education Foundation which issues grants and scholarships in the community which issues grants and scholarships in the community

””All the community's problems stem from the school. All the community's problems stem from the school. If the school resolves their problems, then the If the school resolves their problems, then the community would follow.”community would follow.”

Jim is the Commonwealth Attorney and the Board Jim is the Commonwealth Attorney and the Board AttorneyAttorney

Tend to be Tend to be relentlessrelentless in their pursuits in their pursuits

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsNancy Jo Grub MeyerNancy Jo Grub Meyer, a long-standing , a long-standing

native, is on the second tier of the power native, is on the second tier of the power

structure.structure.

Currently serves on the city councilCurrently serves on the city councilFocuses a lot of energy on Historic PreservationFocuses a lot of energy on Historic PreservationPerforms an unprecedented amount of volunteer work Performs an unprecedented amount of volunteer work throughout the communitythroughout the community

Lost her husband several years ago in a tragic car Lost her husband several years ago in a tragic car accidentaccident

Raised five kids in Carroll County as a single motherRaised five kids in Carroll County as a single motherLocal piano teacherLocal piano teacherStrong CatholicStrong CatholicCurrently has two children who are teaching in the Carroll Currently has two children who are teaching in the Carroll County School systemCounty School system

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsHarold “Shorty” TomlinsonHarold “Shorty” Tomlinson, a long standing , a long standing

native, is on the second native, is on the second tiertier of the power of the power structure. structure.

Currently the Carroll County Judge-Executive Currently the Carroll County Judge-Executive Received the nick name “Shorty” while playing ball at Received the nick name “Shorty” while playing ball at Carroll Co. HS (most people in the community don’t Carroll Co. HS (most people in the community don’t know his real name)know his real name)

Went into the local industry straight out of high schoolWent into the local industry straight out of high schoolBecame the judge-exec several years ago, but raised Became the judge-exec several years ago, but raised taxes too much too fast and was soon oustedtaxes too much too fast and was soon ousted

Went back to industry, was then encouraged by the Went back to industry, was then encouraged by the community to get back into politicscommunity to get back into politics

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsClay CableClay Cable, a native, is on the second tier , a native, is on the second tier

of the power structure.of the power structure.

Current Chairman of the Board of EducationCurrent Chairman of the Board of EducationHas a strong desire to improve the educational quality Has a strong desire to improve the educational quality of Carroll County schoolsof Carroll County schools

Worked in the local industry for many yearsWorked in the local industry for many yearsCurrently works as a maintenance man at a local park, Currently works as a maintenance man at a local park, which allows him to be more active in the educational which allows him to be more active in the educational systemsystem

Seen by most of the community as a “good ol’ boy”Seen by most of the community as a “good ol’ boy”Currently has two kids within the Carroll County school Currently has two kids within the Carroll County school systemsystem

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsAnne DithridgeAnne Dithridge, a native, receives an , a native, receives an

honorable mention in the power structure. honorable mention in the power structure.

Retired from teaching Home Economics after 30 yearsRetired from teaching Home Economics after 30 yearsServed on the City CouncilServed on the City CouncilHas been the mayor of Carrollton since 1992Has been the mayor of Carrollton since 1992Anne and her former husband ran a successful convenient Anne and her former husband ran a successful convenient storestore

Comes from “Old Money”Comes from “Old Money”Family has a long-standing history of service to the Family has a long-standing history of service to the communitycommunity

Currently has many grandchildren attending the Carroll Currently has many grandchildren attending the Carroll County School systemCounty School system

Seen by the community as a fun loving, pleasant mayorSeen by the community as a fun loving, pleasant mayor

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsMike WilhoitMike Wilhoit, a young native, gets an , a young native, gets an

honorable mention in the power honorable mention in the power structure. structure.

Current Police Chief in CarrolltonCurrent Police Chief in CarrolltonFather runs a local auto garageFather runs a local auto garageMother passed away while he was in high schoolMother passed away while he was in high schoolEKU graduate (law enforcement)EKU graduate (law enforcement)Seen by the community as:Seen by the community as:

Good Role ModelGood Role Model EagerEager Over-achieverOver-achiever Willing to do anything to help anyoneWilling to do anything to help anyone

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsSharon BoydeSharon Boyde, a native, gets an , a native, gets an honorable mention in the power honorable mention in the power

structure.structure.

An elegant lady, serves as the Carrollton librarianAn elegant lady, serves as the Carrollton librarianLives in the historic section of town and is concerned Lives in the historic section of town and is concerned with the preservation of her neighborhoodwith the preservation of her neighborhood

Was able to get a library tax approved in 1985 which Was able to get a library tax approved in 1985 which allowed for a state of the art library in downtown allowed for a state of the art library in downtown CarrolltonCarrollton

Has implemented and maintained top-notch program, Has implemented and maintained top-notch program, both local and recruited, at the local libraryboth local and recruited, at the local library

No kidsNo kids

Power SpecificsPower SpecificsLaman StarkLaman Stark, a native, receives an , a native, receives an

honorable mention in the power honorable mention in the power structure.structure.

Currently serves as the Carroll Co. court clerkCurrently serves as the Carroll Co. court clerk Is a second-generation county court clerkIs a second-generation county court clerkFormer police chief (took the job to “change the Former police chief (took the job to “change the community”)community”)

Graduate of EKU (law enforcement)Graduate of EKU (law enforcement)Big supporter of all school programs and eventsBig supporter of all school programs and eventsWife teaches at Carroll County Middle SchoolWife teaches at Carroll County Middle SchoolSon is a tri-sport athlete at Carroll Co. HSSon is a tri-sport athlete at Carroll Co. HS

Power StructurePower StructureJim Crawford Jim Crawford

& & Ruth BaxterRuth Baxter

Nancy Jo Nancy Jo Grub MeyerGrub Meyer

Harold Harold TomlinsonTomlinson Clay CableClay Cable

Anne Dithridge Anne Dithridge Mike Wilhoit Mike Wilhoit Sharon Boyde Sharon Boyde Laman StarkLaman Stark

Amorphous Power: ReligionAmorphous Power: Religion

With over twenty churches of varying With over twenty churches of varying denominations, Carroll County has an denominations, Carroll County has an untapped power source. When united untapped power source. When united behind a cause these churches can be behind a cause these churches can be

a significant power, but have rarely a significant power, but have rarely exercised their power.exercised their power.

Amorphous Power: IndustryAmorphous Power: Industry

With thirteen major factories supplying With thirteen major factories supplying more than 2000 jobs to the more than 2000 jobs to the

community, these industries could community, these industries could wield quite a bit of power. However, wield quite a bit of power. However,

they have chosen to exercise financial they have chosen to exercise financial support of schools rather than exert support of schools rather than exert

political power.political power.

Amorphous Power: DemocratsAmorphous Power: Democrats

An overwhelming percentage of the An overwhelming percentage of the county belong to the Democratic party. county belong to the Democratic party.

In fact, the local paper is the “The In fact, the local paper is the “The News-Democrat.” Although the News-Democrat.” Although the

community is quite conservative in community is quite conservative in personal and religious beliefs, they are personal and religious beliefs, they are strong supporters of Democratic ideals.strong supporters of Democratic ideals.

Brennon SappBrennon Sappbsapp@bellsouth.netbsapp@bellsouth.net

Indiana University SoutheastIndiana University Southeast

Summer 2005Summer 2005