Eight years in, White takes the chairman’s seat

Dakota White has spent the past eight years representing District 4 on the White County Commission. During that time, he has chaired committees dealing with everything from the county budget and finances to solid waste and served as vice chairman of the commission.

On Monday night, his fellow commissioners gave him another job.

White was elected chairman of the White County Commission, moving into the leadership role just weeks after District 4 voters returned him to the commission for another term.

“Being re-elected this year meant a great deal to me because the people of District 4 gave me the opportunity to continue serving them for another term. Then, to have my fellow commissioners elect me Chairman was very humbling,” White said. “I see that position as a responsibility more than anything else.”

White first joined the commission eight years ago and has since served as chairman of the Budget Committee, Solid Waste Committee, Financial Management Committee, and Steering Committee B. In 2023, commissioners elected him vice chairman.

Those roles have put White in the middle of some of the decisions that come before county government, particularly when it comes to how taxpayer dollars are spent.

“In particular, serving as Budget Committee Chairman and Financial Management Committee Chairman has given me a much deeper understanding of county finances, the responsibilities we have with taxpayer dollars, and the difficult decisions that sometimes have to be made when balancing the needs of different departments with the resources available,” White said.

That experience is something White believes will matter as he moves into the chairman’s seat, but he said experience alone isn't enough.

“Experience matters, especially when you’re making decisions involving taxpayers’ money and the future of the county. At the same time, I think experience only matters if you’re still willing to listen and learn,” White said. “No commissioner has all the answers, and some of the best decisions come from listening to other commissioners, county employees, elected officials, and most importantly, the people we represent.”

Listening is also a large part of what White believes the job requires outside the commission room. He said public service involves answering calls, hearing from people who are frustrated, looking at different sides of an issue, doing the work before it comes time to cast a vote, and sometimes making decisions that aren't easy.

“You’re never going to make everyone happy, but you can make sure people know they were heard and that you took the responsibility seriously,” White said.

White's eight years on the commission haven't been without difficult stretches. He pointed specifically to the past four years, which have included disagreements, difficult decisions, and long meetings. But when it came time to seek another term, he said those challenges weren't a reason to walk away from the job.

“Ultimately, I felt like there was still work to be done and that I still had something to contribute,” White said. “Eight years of serving on the commission and the experience I’ve gained through the different committees I’ve chaired have taught me a tremendous amount about county government and the needs of our community.”

Now, as chairman, White said he wants to use that experience to help set the tone for how commissioners work through those disagreements.

“As Chairman, I want to help create an environment where commissioners can disagree without being disagreeable, where everyone has an opportunity to be heard, and where we can work together even when we don’t see an issue the same way,” White said. “We have commissioners with different backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives, and I believe that can be one of our strengths when we keep the focus on serving White County.”

White said he still enjoys serving the community after eight years, despite the hard days that have come with it.

His reasons for doing it haven't changed much, either. When White first ran for the commission eight years ago, he said he wanted to serve because he loved White County and wanted to have a part in helping the community move forward.

White County is still home. His family is here, his business is here, and it is where his family is raising their children. That makes the long-term impact of the decisions made by the commission particularly important to him.

“The decisions we make today can affect what this community looks like years down the road, and I take that seriously,” White said.

For White, that includes what White County will offer the next generation.

“I want White County to be a place where our children can grow up, find opportunities, raise their own families, and be proud to call home,” White said.

White begins another term representing District 4 with the added responsibility of leading the commission on which he has spent the past eight years serving.

“I’m thankful the people of District 4 have trusted me with another term, and I’m thankful my fellow commissioners have trusted me to serve as Chairman,” White said. “I don’t take either one lightly, and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve.”