Ed Cole has announced his candidacy for the Dubois County Council, seeking the District 1 seat as a Democrat.
Cole previously served as president of Dubois Strong, the county’s economic development organization, for a decade from 2014 to 2024. During his tenure, key initiatives included expanding local housing options, strengthening workforce attraction efforts, improving access to childcare, and overseeing a small business loan program.
In his bid for county council, Cole says he plans to serve residents in a new capacity while relying on more than two decades of experience in economic development. His background includes work in fundraising campaigns, budget preparation, financial management, grant administration, and project management.
Cole’s leadership at Dubois Strong also involved managing a mix of public and private funding, including support from local governments and contributions from businesses of all sizes throughout the county. His efforts earned recognition in 2023 when he was named Business Person of the Year by the Dubois County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to his local work, Cole has represented Dubois County on several regional organizations, including the Radius LEDO Council, Southwest Indiana Development Council, and the Regional Opportunities Initiative. He also served on the Jasper Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2021 to 2024.
Cole is a graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in speech communications. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Dubois County and currently works part-time with Dubois County Habitat for Humanity.
His campaign emphasizes the importance of fiscal responsibility as local governments face tighter budgets due to recent state property tax revenue reductions. Cole says maintaining the county’s financial health will require experienced and disciplined financial management in the years ahead.
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