MISSION STATEMENT
Improve Resident Awareness and Restore Integrity to the Town of Merrillville through community involvement and action.
A primary goal of this group is to meet your fellow neighbors, build community spirit, & make new friendships in a non-political way. When people get to know one another, they begin to care about one another. Let’s build our community one relationship at a time.
CORE VALUES
Here are the core tennents to the Merrillville Change Agency.
01
Communication
Getting the word out. Connecting people. Using social platforms. Our town needs open communication and transparency more than anything. Involving people and finding solutions together is key.
02
Community
Lets build our community together, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood. Let’s get to know our neighbors and look out for each other. Let’s experience and celebrate ALL of our vast cultures and traditions. Let’s take ownership of our Town!!
03
Honesty
Sometimes it’s not pretty. We need to begin to deal with challenges openly and respectfully. Sometimes it will be awkward. Some questions will be awkward. Some answers will be awkward. But we can do this together with open minds.
04
Respect
It’s tougher than we think. We need to start at the top where Town Council sets the example. It is tiresome to see the disrespect and arrogance from the people who WE ELECT. It is possible to disagree and do it in a manner that leaves the door open for our minds to change.
05
Empowerment
Residents empowering thenselves and taking agency over their neighborhoods and community activities. Recreation, education, and beautification should be by everyone for everyone. Let’s work together and find creative solutions to our everyday issues. What skilld can you volunteer to your community?
06
Empowerment
Residents should be empowered and given agency over their neighborhoods and community activities. Recreation, education, and beautification should be by everyone for everyone. Let’s work together and find creative solutions to our everyday issues.
Proven Success Improving Our Community!
In the past 2.5 years, Bryon has only missed 1 or 2 Town Council Meetings. He regularly attends other meetings and is a part of the Merrillville Momentum Project. Bryon is also an active member in the Crossroads Kiwanis Club and the Lions Club – two service clubs acting to better Merrillville as a whole. Bryon has also met with a number of Town Departments to try understanding the challenges our Town faces from the perspective of the employees tasked with doing the work.
Proven Success Reporting To Our Community!
For over 2 years, Bryon has consistently attended the Town Council Meetings as well as other deparmental meetings and reported his findings to the residents. He has spoken to department leaders to understand their goals and the challenges they face. Bryon has made it a point to celebrate Town Employee of the Month on Social Media. He has also spotlighted resident found doing good deeds within the community.
In addition, Bryon has created Google Maps of Merrillville and Ross Township to make it easy for residents to understand their Town & Township. Google Maps are easy to view and navigate on most devices which make them convenient.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Merrillville Change Agency wants a better Merrillville
MCA – Residents Taking Ownership
of Our Community!!
✓ Accessible ✓ Approachable ✓ Responsive ✓ Hardworking ✓ Dedicated ✓ Open Minded
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you running?
In the summer of 2021, I had read a news article talking about Shawn Pettit’s wife Kathy being given a promotion from bookkeeper to Director of HR. This angered me so much that I went to a Town Council Meeting to voice my displeasure.
I discovered that Kathy had no special training, degree, or experience in Human Resources. Rick Bella (D-5, President) expalined Kathy’s qualifications as, “She has worked for Merrillville for 20 years, doesn’t she deserve a promotion.
I was thinking to myself, I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for about 25 years. Why do I need to go to school or pass the Bar examine to be a lawyer? Shouldn’t I just get to call myself a lawyer? I know how to use Google for law issues.
This is how I knew we needed new leaders for our town. Bella’s answer was rrediculous and it is still rediculous to this day.
Why are you running as an Independent Candidate?
Two answers for thos question. First, I truly believe we are at a point where the two political parties are so far apart in ideas that it creates a huge gap between people. I think it is time to put “red” and “blue” aside for a little while and work on the bigger issues that should unite us all. We can always go bacl to the fight between Elephanys & Donkeys later on. I want to bridge that gap and find the common ground.
Second, I believed so firmly in Chandra Scott-Flowers as a candidate that I was backing her campaign. She has a beautiful but fierce voice for the community. I hope she will contimnue to be an advocate for Merrillville residents for years to come.
What is a challenge that Merrillville faces currently?
The Town is run by politcians who are only concerned with “their Ward.” You hear it all the time at the Council Meetings, “My Ward.” We need a Towb Council that works as a team and sees Merrillville as “Our Town.” We need to work together on Our Town. We need to stop accepting each Council Person acting like “their Ward” is “their Kingdom.”
Shawn Pettit says, “I run the Warehouse Ward.” This is an arrogant and degrading phrase. These warehouses are not the glamorous, hipster places where you can find good music aand good brews. These are the warehouses that bring in large volumes of semi-truck traffic and diesel odor. Our roadways are congested. If there is an issue on I-65, our roadway problems are magnified and traffic flows are crushed to a crawl.
You may not live in Ward 6, but this still affects you when wanting to get around town to get to the grocery store or gym. This is why we need to treat Merrillville as a whole, not this part and that part.
Can I meet with Bryon?
Absolutely! Want to have a quick chat or maybe a coffee to discuss concerns or new ideas? Conversation is a main point of this campaign. Contact us and let’s get something scheduled.
What can I do to help Bryon’s campaign?
While donations can always be put to good use, there are many things you can do to help. This will be a David vs, Goliath fight and Bryon can use ALL the help he can get. Spreading the word, walking with Bryon in your neighborhood, having a campaign sign in your yard are all ways to be helpful. Contact us with your ideas, suggestions, or offer of help.
Are you accepting campaign donations?
Yes! If you would like to donate via PayPal, send donations to: bryon@merrillville.town
You can also send me a message if you would rather use a more traditional method such as cash or check.
Donations are NOT tax deductible.
What do you think local government’s role is in encouraging business?
Town Council should be providing a business friendly environment that is attractive to entrepreneurs and investors. That being said, Merrillville has gone too far in the support of large, multi-million dollar corporations and has all but forgotten small & medium businesses. “Mom & Pop” shops are the backbone of the American economy. All you hear about is the million square foot warehouses. You never hear about the Dairy Queen or Angie’s Breakfast & Grill – or so many other local treasures.
Come to a Town Council Meeting and Council Persons grill small business owners with a ton of questions. Why not support & encourage these wonderful entrepreneurs for investing in our town? No, Council stands in judgement. It is sickening. A small business is better than no business.
What areas of our town need more development in your eyes?
Merrillville’s North side needs economic redevelopment in a bad way. It has been ignored for far too long. The town is literally spending millions and millions of dollars in South Merrillvile and barely has the time of day for North Merrillville. That has to change as quickly as possible!
News & Updates
Latest From Town Council
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 12, 2023 – Merrillville Town Planniong Commission Meeting
Town Attorney, Joseph C. Svetanoff, BOLDLY stated that the First Amendment does NOT apply in Merrillville, Indiana. He said this as he tried to bully Eric January, Clerk/Treasurer; Pablo Payan, Resident; and Nryon S Mesarch, Resident from speaking out against TIF Zones and Tax Abayements. This is why we need to watch out Town Officials closely.
Mr. Svetanoff has in the past admited pubicly that the Town of Merrillville has ordinasnces that are unconstitutional and also contrary to Indiana State Law. When Town Council was pressed on the issue of why this would not have been fixed, Rick Bella (D-5) simply stated, “We’re working on it.” These issue still remain.
But, it makes you wonder…. how many ordinances are actually unconsitutional or against State law. The sad thing is this: Svetanoff had the answer immediately as if he was prepared to give it. His purpose seems less legal advice and more legal “bullying.”
Come to a Town Council Meeting and see for yourself. Meetings are held at the Town Municipal Complex at 7820 Broadway on the Second & Fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm.