Races Set for May Primary

Posted on February 12, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The races are set for May’s primary elections. In Starke County, one hotly-contested office is county clerk. Current auditor Kay Chaffins is challenging incumbent Vicki Cooley for the Democratic party nomination. The winner would presumably face Republican Bernadette Welter-Manuel in November’s general election.

Meanwhile, Democrats Kasey Clark and Rachel Oesterreich are vying to replace Chaffins as auditor. Prosecutor Nick Bourff faces a Democratic primary challenge from Richard Ballard, with the winner expected to face Leslie Baker in November.

Three candidates are also running for District 2 County Council Member: Democrats Dale Conley and Chuck Estok, and Republican Howard A. Bailey Jr. District 1 County Council Member Brad Hazelton faces a Democratic primary challenge from Karl Swihart.

Several candidates have expressed interest in Railroad Township government. Incumbent Trustee Mandy Thomason faces a Republican primary challenge from Deb Wappel. The winner will presumably square off against former trustee Democrat Roger Chaffins in November. Meanwhile, four Democrats and three Republicans have filed to run for the three Railroad Township Board seats. In California Township, Trustee Judy Ahlenius faces a Democratic primary challenge from Evelyn Trusty.

Pulaski County also has its share of contested races. Republicans Tim Murray and Mary Welker are running for Circuit Court Judge. Coroner John Behny faces a Republican primary challenge from Alan Mitchell. District 3 County Commissioner Mike McClure will face Tyler Campbell in May’s Republican primary.

Pulaski County’s most hotly-contested race is for the District 3 County Council seat. Incumbent Democrat Linda Powers will face Jessye Gilley in the May primary, with the winner expected to face Republican Brian Young in November’s general election.

The Winamac and Francesville town council races have each attracted three candidates for the available seats.

Candidate Filings As of February 9 Filing Deadline:

Starke County

Assessor: Michelle Snowdon (D)

Auditor: Kasey Bula Clark (D), Rachel Milner Oesterreich (D)

Clerk: Katherine (Kay) Dolezal Chaffins (D), Vicki Cooley (D), Bernadette Welter-Manuel (R)

Coroner: Dannie Ray Hoffer Jr. (D), Jack E. Rosa (R)

Prosecutor: Leslie A. Baker (R), Richard (Dick) Ballard (D), Nicholas Allen Bourff (D)

Recorder: Rebekah Sponaugle Wagner (D)

Sheriff: Thomas Decola (R), Bill Dulin (D)

Commissioner District 2: Don Binkley (D), Bryan Harold Cavender (R)

County Council District 1: Bradley J. Hazelton (D), Karl Swihart (D)

County Council District 2: Howard A. Bailey Jr. (R), Dale Conley (D), Chuck Estok (D)

County Council District 3: David Pearman (R)

County Council District 4: Karen Tibbs (D)

California Township Trustee: Judy Ahlenius (D), Evelyn Trusty (D)

California Township Board Member: Michele Albon (R), Richard Anderson (R), Matthew McGowen Sr. (R)

Center Township Trustee: Julie Manns (D)

Center Township Board Member: Steve A. Berndt (D), Ben Warren (D)

Davis Township Trustee: Robin Latimer (D)

Davis Township Board Member: Rebecca Ferch (D), Robert Ferch (R), Rebecca (Becky) Pflugshaupt-Davis (R)

Jackson Township Trustee: Robert Schmidt (D)

Jackson Township Board Member: Michelle R. Hounshell (R), Perry Thompson Jr (R)

North Bend Township Trustee: Rutherford Byron Walters (R)

North Bend Township Board Member: Sam Bailey (R), 1. Richard Wieczorek Sr. (D)

Oregon Township Trustee: Mark Allen (D)

Oregon Township Board Member: Corey Louzon (D), Carole Noble (D), Joseph I Reed Jr. (R)

Railroad Township Trustee: Roger Chaffins Sr. (D), Mandy Thomason (R), Debra Wappel (R)

Railroad Township Board Member: Bart D. Egolf (R), Joe Krzyzanowski (D), Mike Lawecki (R), Deborah (Debbie) Pavloff (R), Clayton (Clay) Redlin (D), John Scott Roy (D), Steven Watson (D)

Washington Township Trustee: Cathy Ewing Benko (D)

Washington Township Board Member: Kimberly Temple (R)

Wayne Township Trustee: Shirley A. Kots (D)

Wayne Township Board Member: Joe Griffo (D)

California 2 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Shirley Fields

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeffery J. Houston

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Rick Chambers

Center 1 Convention Delegate “At-Large”: Michaelene J. Houston (D)

Center 2 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Linda D. Berndt

Center 3 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeff V. Berg

Center 5 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Kenneth Wallace

Railroad Township Democrat Precinct Committeeman: August (Gus) Eckert II

Washington 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Robert Olejniczac Jr.

Washington 2 Convention Delegate “At-Large”: Bernadette Welter-Manuel (R)

Wayne 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Isaiah Collins

Wayne 2 Convention Delegate “At Large”: Brenda Stanojevic

Wayne 4 Convention Delegate “At Large”: Christopher Lee (R)

Wayne 4 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Bill Crase Jr.


Pulaski County

Assessor: Lorena H. (Holly) VanDerAa (R)

Clerk: Christina L. Hoffa (R)

Coroner: John Behny (R), Alan S. Mitchell (R)

Prosecutor: Daniel P. Murphy (R)

Sheriff: Jeffery K. Richwine (R)

Surveyor: Jenny Weaver-Keller (D)

Circuit Court Judge: Timothy J. Murray (R), Mary C. Welker (R)

Superior Court Judge: Crystal A. Brucker Kocher (R)

Commissioner District 3: Tyler Campbell (R), John Michael “Mike” McClure (R)

County Council District 2: Ronald “Rudy” Desabatine (R), Douglas Roth (R)

County Council District 3: Jessye Gilley (D), Linda Powers (D), Brian Young (R)

Francesville Town Clerk: Cathy Lynn Elston (R)

Francesville Town Council: Pamela G. Antrim (R), Lynn Johns (R), Rosa M. Wuethrich (R)

Winamac Town Council: Alvin R. Parish (R), Dave Schambers (D), Dan Vanaman (R)

Cass Township Trustee: Christopher Hudson (D)

Harrison Township Trustee: Betty Stinemetz (R)

Harrison Township Board: Christopher A. Graves (R), Alice L. Gudas (R)

Indian Creek Township Board: David Weaver (D)

Jefferson Township Trustee: Betty L. Kruger (R)

Jefferson Township Board: Roscoe “Bud” Cummins (R), Carl G. Kopka (D), Steven Sommers (D)

Monroe Township Trustee: Michelle Schmicker (R)

Monroe Township Board: Jeremy L. Beckner (R), Timothy F. Hoffa Jr. (R), Marcia Link (D)

Rich Grove Township Trustee: Deloris Locke (R)

Salem Township Trustee: Kay Beasey (R)

Salem Township Board: Maurice Kopka (D), Gregory C. Stone (R), Charles R. Yeoman (R)

Tippecanoe Township Trustee: Martie White (D)

Tippecanoe Township Board: Tedmund R. Bauer (R), William E. Bauer (Bill) (D), Kelli Denton (D)

VanBuren Township Trustee: Lenora K. Hoover (R)

VanBuren Township Board: David W. Bailey (R), Kathleen (Kathi) Thompson (D), Tom Wallace (R)

White Post Township Trustee: Karen S. Wagner (R)

White Post Township Board: Richard Lee Brick (R), Patricia L. Tiede (R),

State Convention Delegate: Doug Gutwein (R), Emily Hizer (R), Daniel P. Murphy (R), Brian Young (R)

Candidate Filings Continue as Deadline Approaches

Posted on February 5, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The deadline is approaching for candidates to file to run in the May primary. Candidates have until Friday at noon to file their paperwork with the county clerk’s office.

The list of candidates continues to grow in Starke County. Republican Leslie Baker has filed to run for county prosecutor, joining incumbent Democrat Nick Bourff. The Starke County Clerk’s race is now up to three candidates: incumbent Democrat Vicki Cooley, Democrat Kay Chaffins, and Republican Bernadette Welter-Manuel.

The race for County Council District 2 also has its third candidate. Democrat Chuck Estok joins Republican Howard A. Bailey Jr. and Democrat Dale Conley.

Recent filings in Pulaski County include Democrat Jessye Gilley for the District 2 County Council seat and Republican Dan Vanaman for reelection to the Winamac Town Council.


Candidate Filings As of February 2:

Starke County

Assessor: Michelle Snowdon (D)

Auditor: Kasey Bula Clark (D), Rachel Milner Oesterreich (D)

Clerk: Katherine (Kay) Dolezal Chaffins (D), Vicki Cooley (D), Bernadette Welter-Manuel (R)

Coroner: Dannie Ray Hoffer Jr. (D)

Prosecutor: Leslie A. Baker (R), Nicholas Allen Bourff (D)

Recorder: Rebekah Sponaugle Wagner (D)

Sheriff: Thomas Decola (R), Bill Dulin (D)

Commissioner District 2: Don Binkley (D), Bryan Harold Cavender (R)

County Council District 1: Bradley J. Hazelton (D)

County Council District 2: Howard A. Bailey Jr. (R), Dale Conley (D), Chuck Estok (D)

County Council District 3: David Pearman (R)

County Council District 4: Karen Tibbs (D)

California Township Board Member: Michele Albon (R), Richard Anderson (R), Matthew McGowen Sr. (R)

Center Township Trustee: Julie Manns (D)

Center Township Board Member: Ben Warren (D)

Davis Township Trustee: Robin Latimer (D)

Davis Township Board Member: Robert Ferch (R), Rebecca (Becky) Pflugshaupt-Davis (R)

Jackson Township Trustee: Robert Schmidt (D)

Jackson Township Board Member: Michelle R. Hounshell (R)

North Bend Township Trustee: Rutherford Byron Walters (R)

Oregon Township Trustee: Mark Allen (D)

Oregon Township Board Member: Corey Louzon (D), Carole Noble (D), Joseph I Reed Jr. (R)

Railroad Township Trustee: Roger Chaffins Sr. (D), John Harris (R), Mandy Thomason (R)

Railroad Township Board Member: Bart D. Egolf (R), Joe Krzyzanowski (D), Mike Lawecki (R), Clayton (Clay) Redlin (D)

Washington Township Trustee: Cathy Ewing Benko (D)

Washington Township Board Member: Kimberly Temple (R)

Wayne Township Trustee: Shirley A. Kots (D)

Wayne Township Board Member: Joe Griffo (D)

California 2 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Shirley Fields

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeffery J. Houston

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Rick Chambers

Center 3 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeff V. Berg

Center 5 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Kenneth Wallace

Railroad Township Democrat Precinct Committeeman: August (Gus) Eckert II

Washington 2 Convention Delegate “At-Large”: Bernadette Welter-Manuel (R)

Wayne 2 Convention Delegate “At Large”: Brenda Stanojevic

Wayne 4 Convention Delegate “At Large”: Christopher Lee (R)



Pulaski County

Assessor: Lorena H. (Holly) VanDerAa (R)

Clerk: Christina L. Hoffa (R)

Coroner: John Behny (R), Alan S. Mitchell (R)

Sheriff: Jeffery K. Richwine (R)

Surveyor: Jenny Weaver-Keller (D)

Commissioner District 3: Tyler Campbell (R), John Michael “Mike” McClure (R)

County Council District 2: Douglas Roth (R)

County Council District 3: Jessye Gilley (D)

Francesville Town Clerk: Cathy Lynn Elston (R)

Winamac Town Council: Alvin R. Parish (R), Dan Vanaman (R)

Cass Township Trustee: Christopher Hudson (D)

Harrison Township Trustee: Betty Stinemetz (R)

Harrison Township Board: Christopher A. Graves (R)

Jefferson Township Trustee: Betty L. Kruger (R)

Jefferson Township Board: Roscoe “Bud” Cummins (R), Carl G. Kopka (D), Steven Sommers (D)

Monroe Township Trustee: Michelle Schmicker (R)

Monroe Township Board: Timothy F. Hoffa Jr. (R), Jeremy L. Beckner (R)

Rich Grove Township Trustee: Deloris Locke (R)

Salem Township Trustee: Kay Beasey (R)

Salem Township Board: Maurice Kopka (D), Charles R. Yeoman (R)

Tippecanoe Township Trustee: Martie White (D)

Tippecanoe Township Board: Tedmund R. Bauer (R), William E. Bauer (Bill) (D), Kelli Denton (D)

VanBuren Township Trustee: Lenora K. Hoover (R)

VanBuren Township Board: David W. Bailey (R), Kathleen (Kathi) Thompson (D), Tom Wallace (R)

White Post Township Trustee: Karen S. Wagner (R)

White Post Township Board: Richard Lee Brick (R), Patricia L. Tiede (R),

State Convention Delegate: Doug Gutwein (R), Daniel P. Murphy (R)

Four N.J.-S.P. School Board Candidates Interviewed by Railroad Township Board

Posted on June 15, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The Railroad Township Board heard from four candidates Tuesday who’d like to represent the township on the North Judson-San Pierre School Board.

Cassandra Hine is an attorney specializing in family law. She told board members she’s seen the effect the local school corporation has on the community. “Actually, I currently have a case where a mom lives here in San Pierre, and her former significant other lives in Valparaiso, and a guardian ad litem was involved in the case, and did an evaluation of who should have custody of this child,” Hine said. “And one of the factors in her evaluation in ruling for the father to have custody of a two-year-old girl was the Valparaiso school systems far exceed the school systems here in this county.”

Megan Korous has two children at N.J.-S.P. When it comes to deciding how to prioritize taxpayer money, she said it’s important to adjust to students’ unique learning styles while preparing them for the workforce. “I think we need to look at different types of teaching and making sure that all children are being taught to how they learn, and making sure that there are classes available for not only those kids that are high learners, if you will, but also the kids that maybe are more hands-on, book work isn’t for them, but they need something after high school,” she said.

Susan McCormack has prior experience serving on a school board. She said her six years on the LaPorte School Board have prepared her for just about anything that could come up at N.J.-S.P. “LaPorte Community School Corporation is a much bigger corporation than this,” she said. “So I’m hoping that this would not be as big of a job as that was, and believe me, it was a big job. We had 10 board members and two alternates, and we went through the process of replacing the superintendent three times, and I served as board president, as well as a couple of other positions on the board.”

Deb Wappel is a former N.J.-S.P. teacher. She’s been following the school board for the past couple years and has been looking for ways to get more involved with the corporation. “I have applied many times at the schools,” she said. “Most recently, I met with the school board president and vice-president and offered to work for the school system for one dollar a year, as a communications manager/director/liaison because there have been many, many bad feelings in the community because of the referendum and the elected school board thing. So I’ve done everything I can to try to help, and I feel like this may be my last effort and chance to make the difference.”

When asked how they’d deal with complaints from angry parents, Korous, McCormack, and Wappel all said they’d refer them to school staff first to go through the proper chain of command. Hine said she would gather all the facts, and address concerns in public, during a school board meeting. However, most of the candidates emphasized the importance of listening to parents’ concerns.

When it came to how they’d prioritize money, Korous and Wappel both talked about increasing vocational training, while Hine opposed sacrificing arts and sports programs for the sake of boosting test scores.

The Railroad Township Board will meet Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at the old San Pierre Elementary School to appoint a new school board member. That person will replace current N.J.-S.P. School Board President Pat Goin.

Candidate Filing Opens Today

January 6, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

 

This is the first day for candidates seeking county-wide elected office to declare their intentions to run. Starke County seats up for grabs this year include treasurer and surveyor. The county commissioner district 1 and 3 seats are also on this year’s ballot. Kathy Norem currently represents District 1, and Kent Danford is the District 3 commissioner. Candidates must live within the district but are voted on county wide. District 1 includes North Bend, Oregon and Washington Townships. District 3 is comprised of Jackson, Railroad and Wayne Townships. The three county council at-large seats are also on this year’s ballot. Candidates can live anywhere in the county and are voted on by the entire county.

Democrat and Republican precinct committee representatives are also chosen during presidential election years.

Several school board seats are also on this year’s ballot, including an at-large member of the Culver Community School Board. North Bend Township is part of that district. The California-Washington and Center 2, 3 and 4 seats on the Knox School Board are also on this year’s ballot. So are the two Oregon-Davis at-large seats.

In Pulaski County, the auditor, recorder, treasurer, commissioner District 1 and 2 and county council at-large seats are all up for election.

Prospective candidates have until Feb. 5 to file the necessary paperwork in the county clerk’s office. Visit http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2395.htm for more information.

Municipal Election Candidate Filing Begins Today

Published: January 7, 2015
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

Today is the first day to file for candidacy for the Municipal Election. Candidates may file in the county clerk’s office.

In the City of Knox, District 1-4 council seats are up for election including an at-large seat. Voters will also elect a mayor, city clerk-treasurer and the judge of the city court.

A town clerk-treasurer for the town of North Judson will be voted on along with three council seat in Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3.

Hamlet voters will elect a clerk-treasurer plus three council members in Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3.

Municipal offices up for election in Marshall County include the Mayor of Plymouth, clerk-treasurer in Argos, Bourbon, Bremen, Culver, LaPaz, and Plymouth. Voters will also elect three council members in Argos, two in Bourbon, four in Culver and three in LaPaz. All five city council seats in Plymouth will be elected as well as two additional at-large seats.