Franklin Township Board Members, Trustee Run Unopposed
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP — Three candidates are running unopposed for the three open seats on the Franklin Township advisory board. The candidates include Republican incumbents James L. Eads, Buni Leininger and Joseph Secrist.
Democratic incumbent Trilla Gearhart will run unopposed for the Franklin Township trustee position.
James Eads
Eads has served on the Franklin Township advisory board for approximately six years. He is a Mentone resident and has resided in the area for 25 years. Eads is the Mentone town marshal and has held that position for 24 years. He has served on the Mentone Fire Department for 23 years and is currently serving as assistant chief at the fire department.
Eads and his wife, Tammy, are avid motorcycle riders, with Harley Davidson being their motorcycle of choice.
Buni Leininger
Leininger has been a Franklin Township advisory board member for six and a half years. She is retired. Leininger and her husband, William, have three children: Thad Leininger, Aron Leininger and Cami Shriver, as well as several grandchildren, ages 1 through 13.
Leininger and her husband reside in the country between Akron and Mentone. She has lived in that area her entire life.
“We live on a small 10-acre farm and dabble in sheep,” said Leininger. The Leiningers are active in the Wheels on Fire Cancer Crusade.
Joe Secrist
Secrist has been on the Franklin Township advisory board for three years. In the past, he has served on several other boards, including the county fair board and Habitat for Humanity.
He resides southeast of Mentone and has lived in the area all his life. Secrist is the owner of Niff-Tone Dist. Inc.
He is married to Lisa and has two children, a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Megan.
Secrist enjoys running and pushing wheelchairs in races for My Team Triumph. He assists in coaching football and track at Tippecanoe Valley High School. He is also part of ACTS Allowing Christ To Shine and helps lead mission trips to Haiti. Secrist is very involved at Warsaw Community Church and serves on the emergency response team. He is a ham radio operator and an EMT. Secrist also enjoys performing magic.
Trilla Gearhart
Gearhart is completing her 20th year as the Franklin Township trustee. She also serves on the Mentone Tri-Township Fire Board and the Mentone Four Way Ambulance Service.
Gearhart resides in Akron and has lived there for 39 years. She is married to Dennis and has three grown children: Ashley (and husband Chris) Craft; Cory Gearhart; and Pastor Emily Gearhart. She also has four grandchildren: Alex, Hunter, Derek and Hailey, and a golden retriever named Elsie.
She was previously employed at Worth Financial Service for 26 years and currently owns a tax accounting service and is an office assistant for Yellow Creek Lake Ministries.
Gearhart is a member of several associations and committees. She is part of the Wheels on Fire team helping to raise funds for cancer patients in the Fulton and Kosciusko communities. Gearhart enjoys reading, making primitive crafts, scrapbooking and spending time with family.