INDEPENDENT · WEST TOWNSHIP, MARSHALL COUNTY

Accountability, Integrity, and Transparency for West Township.

Bill Woodward is running for West Township Trustee to open up local government — regular public meetings you can attend, clear financial reporting, and a township surplus finally put to work for the community he's called home for 16 years.

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Bill Woodward
12094 Peach Road
Plymouth IN 46563

Vote November 3, 2026

Bill Woodward, candidate for West Township Trustee

What Does a Township Trustee Actually Do?

It's a real elected office, on the ballot every four years, with specific legal responsibilities.

Assistance to Residents in Need

By state law, administers emergency township assistance — help with rent, utilities, food, and burial costs for residents facing hardship.

Fire Protection

Contracts with a fire department or fire district to make sure the township has coverage.

Cemetery Upkeep

Oversees the maintenance of township cemeteries.

Township Budget & Records

Prepares the township's annual budget, handles public funds, and files financial reports open to residents.

Source: Indiana Code Title 36, Article 6, Chapter 4.

The Choice, Side by Side

What West Township has now, and what Bill is proposing instead.

HOW IT WORKS NOW

Meetings held in the trustee's private home

$23,978/yr trustee salary (2025)

Township-paid home office rent

Township-paid cell phone

Spouse paid $5,000/yr as "clerk"

BILL WOODWARD'S PLAN

Quarterly public meetings at the county building — open to every resident, with financial disclosure and time for public comment

Surplus funds put to work — invested to grow, and spent on community improvements and road repair

Cuts his own pay to $11,000/yr — less than the lowest-paid Marshall County Council member

Won't charge for a home office

Pays his own cell phone

Won't pay his wife, or anyone else, to serve as his clerk

Township Financial Records, 2012–2025

Line item	2025 alone	14-yr total (2012–2025)
Trustee salary	$23,978.40	$252,021.36
Home office rent	$4,800.00	$59,970.00
Cell phone (Verizon)	$791.87	$5,023.24
Paid to spouse	$5,000.00	$69,896.00
Combined total	$34,570.27	$386,910.60

Source: Indiana Gateway financial reports (gateway.ifionline.org), 2012–2025.

Bill's Plan for West Township

Open, quarterly meetings

Held at least quarterly at the county building, with financial disclosure and time for public comment — so any resident can attend and be heard.

Put the surplus to work

Township surplus funds properly invested to grow, and directed toward real community improvements and overdue road repair.

Reduce his own pay

Cuts his own pay to $11,000/year — less than the lowest-paid Marshall County Council member, and roughly half the current $23,978 salary.

Pay his own phone

He won't charge the township for his personal cell phone.

No office rent

His home office space already exists — he won't charge the township rent for it.

No family on payroll

He won't pay his wife, or anyone else, to serve as his clerk.

About Bill

Bill Woodward has called West Township home for the past 16 years. Born in Puerto Rico while his father served in the Air Force, Bill attended John Glenn High School before moving to California, where he owned his own business. He returned to Indiana in 1993 and eventually made Plymouth home. Bill has a daughter, a son, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Professionally, Bill spent 19 years in quality control and as a field representative in the communications tower industry, and later worked in high-speed aluminum stamping until his retirement. He's also been active on issues affecting Marshall County, working alongside residents.

“I don't want this job for the money. I want to serve West Township and make things better, not simply maintain the status quo.”

Setting the Record Straight

Some voters have heard a couple of claims about how West Township government works that aren’t accurate. Here’s what Indiana law actually says.

Claim: “The trustee’s salary is set by the state.”

Not accurate. Under Indiana Code 36-6-6-10, the trustee’s pay is set locally by the three-member township board as part of the annual budget. State law doesn’t dictate a dollar figure — it only prevents the board from cutting an already-set salary during a term, or below the level it started at the prior term. The trustee’s salary can be cut with the trustee’s own permission or request.

Claim: “The state of Indiana requires the trustee to have a paid secretary.”

Not accurate. Indiana law doesn’t require the trustee’s office to have any paid staff — that’s a local budget decision. The only “secretary” mentioned in state law (IC 36-6-6-7) is a role held by one of the three elected township board members.

Bill Woodward believes voters deserve accurate information about how township government actually works. If you’ve heard other claims about this race, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to point you to the underlying law.