Four Candidates Eye Two County Council Seats
WARSAW — The sitting Kosciusko County Council members who are up for re-election are both seeking new terms, but will face challengers in the November election if they hope to serve new terms.
Republicans Ernie Wiggins of District 3 and Jon Garber of District 4 will be challenged on Nov. 6 by Democrats Gary L. Schue (District 3) and David Morgan (District 4).
Wiggins, a certified public accountant who also served on the Warsaw City Council and was mayor of Warsaw for more than 14 years, said his particular skill set makes him a good fit for the county council.
“I have been encouraged to run again for the county council and believe that I would continue to be an asset to the council, as my strength is in finance and I have experience in the budget process, which the council has as its primary responsibility,” said Wiggins. “I believe that I, and the current council members, have been good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars for our county and we want to continue to be fiscally conservative in that regard.”
Wiggins added that being involved in the county’s long-term vision serves as an added incentive for his re-election bid.
“I have been a member of the strategic plan committee, looking at long-term challenges the county will be facing in the upcoming years,” Wiggins said. “Our jail population is currently at maximum capacity and the council and commissions will be studying alternatives to alleviate this problem. I will also continue to work with the county commissioners on budget issues to ensure that our community continues to be a place our citizens are proud to call their home.” Wiggins was appointed to the county council on Aug. 31, 2016.
Garber, currently in his sixth year on the council, is a lifelong county resident who touts his fiscal frugality as his most valuable asset on the council.
“Being fiscally conservative but progressive in thought, I have emphasized ‘need’ over ‘wants’ when voting on county budgetary requests from department heads,” Garber said. “It is with pride that Kosciusko County is recognized as having the second lowest county general fund tax rate in the state of Indiana.”
Garber mirrored Wiggins’ comments in regard to the importance of collaboration when controlling the county’s purse strings.
“Kosciusko County Council has accomplished much in addressing the financial needs of the county,” Garber said. “Working with fellow council members, commissioners and department heads, a strategic planning committee was formed in 2018 with the goals of providing a plan to guide and direct the next several years both fiscal [council] and physical [commissioners] to ensure the best use of tax dollars.”
Garber said the committee also had goals to enhance transparency between the council and commissioners, as well as to be proactive to the needs of the county.
“I honorably serve on this committee with two of my fellow council members,” Garber said. “I believe that having a strategic plan will be helpful in addressing the critical issues such as providing for the housing of prisoners at an over-populated county jail and staffing within the sheriff’s department. Additionally, both physical and staffing needs were created by the State of Indiana with the establishment of an additional court. These will need to be addressed by the county council and commissioners.”
For the 3rd District seat, challenger Schue said he feels like more scrutiny to consent agenda items is needed in the future.
“My reason for running is because I am done sitting idly by, watching my county councilman simply rubber stamp everything that is placed in front of him,” said Schue. “He has also demonstrated that he has no ideas when it comes to tax dilemmas, and instead, looks to the state for answers when he should be doing what’s best for Kosciusko County, not what the state recommends. The wheel tax is a good example of that. I, on the other hand, believe that if you’re an elected official you should be proactive, always looking for ways to save tax dollars, not just be spoon-fed what the state tells us.”
Schue said that if elected he would seek to eliminate the wheel tax and to also put into place cost-saving practices when it comes to county tax dollars.
Schue is a Warsaw native who is a former officer of the year award-winner, having served as a jailer in Noble County and reserve officer in North Manchester. Schue and his wife, Kathi, have five children.
Morgan, challenging Garber in the 4th District, was born in New York state and was moved to Warsaw with his family when he was five years old, graduating from Warsaw High School in 1989.
My folks taught me the importance of treating people with respect and dignity,” Morgan said. “I’ve got two grown daughters and they impact my views on many things, especially women’s rights. I also want a better government, with less politics and more people,” Morgan said.