WINONA LAKE — The Ward 1 race for Winona Lake Town Council features a challenger versus a non-elected incumbent.

The only contested race for the board includes sitting board member Theila “Tecy” Banta, 516 School Street, who filed for re-election on Jan. 11 and Jim Zachary, 206 5th St., Winona Lake, who submitted his paperwork on the first filing day.

Heather James, 215 Roy St., is unopposed for re-election in Ward 4, while Denny Duncan, 105 Freedom Lane, has no challengers to his re-election in Ward 2.

Banta was named to the board two years ago by special caucus when Peter Christos, in light of his conviction on two misdemeanors, stepped down from the Ward 1 post.

“I have enjoyed that a lot,” she said. “I’m accustomed to fact-finding and questioning and teaching people to question. I think those things are important.”

Banta said when it comes to community leadership and stewardship, the responsibility falls on everyone. From her perspective, a smoothly-run community comes down to one word — concern.

Banta is a former educator who taught in northern California before finishing her career at Lakeland Christian Academy.

Zachary has been a Winona Lake resident for 14 years and is a 2000 Warsaw Community High School graduate.

“I have been interested in local government for as long as I can remember, but I’m at a point in my life now where I am able to give back what I have received as a town resident,” he said. “This will be the first time my name has been on any ballot, and it would be a pleasure to serve my favorite town in the county.”