Candidates have filed and ballots are being printed for the May 5 primary election. This primary focuses on municipal election in Nappanee and Warsaw. Only voters within the city limits of Warsaw and the town limits of Nappanee, which is in Kosciusko County, and those living in the Warsaw School Corporation will go to the polls on May 5.

Syracuse and Winona Lake also have town elections slated for the primary. However, because there are no contested races in either community, no primary election will be held. Political parties will have the opportunity to fill ballot vacancies until June 30.

Communities of Claypool, Milford, and Silver Lake will not have primaries, but will participate in the general election in November. Interested candidates have until noon, Aug. 3 to file. These communities will have town council and clerk-treasurer seats up for election.

Offices up for election for the city of Warsaw include: Mayor, clerk-treasurer, two seats for city council at-large, and one seat each for city council District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4 and District 5.

In Nappanee, offices up for election include: Mayor, clerk-treasurer, city court judge, one seat each for common council at-large, 1st District, 2nd District, 3rd District and 4th District.

Additionally this year’s primary will have a referendum for those voters in the Warsaw Community Schools. That referendum states: “Shall Warsaw Community Schools issue bonds or enter into a lease to finance the construction of a replacement Lincoln Elementary School, the renovation of and improvements to the Washington Elementary School and Edgewood Middle School, which is estimated to cost not more than $39,900,000 and is estimated to increase the property tax rate for debt service by a maximum of $0.138 per $100 of assessed valuation over the 20 year life of the bonds?”

Warsaw Candidates

Republicans residing in the city limits will have to decide who will be on the November ballot for the office of clerk-treasurer and city council at large where two seats are open. All other positions have unopposed candidates.

Clerk-treasurer — Lynne A. Christiansen, incumbent; and Larry Ladd

City Council At-Large (two seats) — Cindy A. Dobbins, incumbent; Connie L. Fribley, Patrick Loebs, Justin Risner, Juergen L. Voss, and Jack Wilhite.

Elaine Call, who currently serves on the city council as an at-large member, is not seeking re-election.

Running unopposed are incumbents Mayor Joe Thallemer; Jeff R. Grose, city council District 1; Charlie Smith, city council District 2; Mike Klondaris, city council District 3; William G. (Jerry) Frush, city council District 5; and Diane Quance, city council District 5.

Democrats will be able to cast their vote in the city election as well with David Baumgartner throwing his hat in the ring for the city council at-large position. Baumgartner will have his name added to the November ballot against two Republican opponents.

Nappanee Candidates

Republicans residing in the city limits of Nappanee but living in Kosciusko County will have to decide who will be on the November ballot for the offices of mayor, common council at large, 2nd District and 4th District. All other positions have unopposed candidates:

Mayor — Phil Jenkins and Patricia Wyant

Common Council At-Large (one seat) — Jacob Dermott, incumbent, and Sheila Losee

2nd District Common Council — Kimberly (Kim) Ingle and Edd Shepherd

4th District Common Council — Dana L. Hollar and Jeff Kitson, incumbent

Running unopposed are: Kathy L. Bowen, incumbent, city clerk-treasurer; Christopher G. Walter, incumbent, city court judge; Todd Nunemaker, incumbent, 1st District Common Council; and Samuel L. Beachy, incumbent, 3rd District Common Council.