Race For Clay Township Advisory Board Seats
CLAY TOWNSHIP — Four candidates are running for seats on the Clay Township advisory board. Republican incumbents Donald L. Morris, Daniel E. Willis and Danny D. Ransbottom, along with Democratic candidate Adam Hyde are competing for the three available positions.
Republican incumbent Helen Brown will run unopposed for the township trustee seat.
Donald Morris
Morris has served on the Clay Township advisory board for 28 years. He resides in Clay Township where he has lived for 75 years. Morris retired from R.R. Donnelley & Sons after 40 years.
He and his wife, Donna have two adult sons, Dale and Dean.
Morris goes by the nickname “Bub.” He enjoys playing golf, caring for his lawn, activities at the Claypool United Methodist Church and spending time with friends and family.
He has experience as a supervisor and as president of the Claypool Lions Club. Morris feels it is important to monitor the township expenditures and to stay within budget and current government requirements.
Daniel Willis
Willis has served on the Clay Township advisory board for four years. He resides in rural Claypool where he has lived for 49 years. He is the past president and current treasurer of the Claypool Lions Club.
Willis was president and co-owner of Tool Specialties, Inc., and is now retired. He is married to Dorothy. They have six children: Sharissa Hazeltine, Daniel A. Willlis, Shawnita Steffen, Susan Patterson, Shartrina White and Sheila Groninger. Another son, Duane Rogers, is deceased. They also have 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
In the next term, Willis would like to focus on concerns of the Clay Township residents and support for the Clay Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Danny Ransbottom
Ransbottom has served on the Clay Township advisory board for 15 years. He resides in Claypool, where he has lived his entire life.
He is self-employed, running Ransbottom Farms & Excavating. He and his wife, Eileen, have been married for 50 years. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
Adam Hyde
Hyde is a resident of Claypool. He has lived in Kosciusko County his entire life, previously residing in Leesburg, Warsaw and Winona Lake. He has held the position of a precinct committeeman for approximately eight years in two different precincts and has been involved with the Kosciusko County Democrats since 2008, winning their ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award in 2011. Hyde has been a poll worker in every election and has attended every state convention since 2010.
A graduate of Grace College Business Program, Hyde is currently employed by Bob Evans. He has held a number of managerial positions in the past. Hyde is married and has three children.
“The most prevalent issue to me in all elections in Kosciusko County is accountability,” said Hyde. “You see the same people running election cycle after election cycle, generally unopposed. I feel a new voice and fresh prospective is always important to any office.”
Helen Brown
(No photo provided)
Brown has served as the Clay Township trustee for seven years. A Claypool resident, Brown has lived in the area for 31 years.
Brown has been married to Mark for 39 years. They have six children and four grandchildren. Brown describes her grandchildren as “the most adorable kids ever.” She is employed at the Kosciusko County Health Department.
Brown has served on church committees. She enjoys flowers, knitting and her job.
“It’s an honor to serve Clay Township residents as their trustee,” Brown stated.