KOSCIUSKO — Republicans in four towns in Kosciusko County will need to conduct political conventions this summer to reduce the number of candidates appearing on the general election ballot to the maximum allowed by state law.

Seven towns with populations of less than 3,500 — Claypool, Etna Green, Pierceton, Leesburg, North Webster, Mentone and Silver Lake —  opted to skip the primary election this year and extend the filing deadline, which arrived Thursday, Aug. 1.

In the general election for small towns, each party can have up to three candidates running for council and one for clerk.

In Etna Green, eight Republican candidates filed for council. Those include Christopher Carter; Keith Claassen; Beverly A. Carter; Aaron Bakian; Susan Klinefelter; Kevin Smith II; Cory D. Ellinger; Jason W. Hanes.

In Pierceton, Republicans will need to choose between three candidates for clerk, Jerry Kreger, Pamela Baker and Myra Mast. Libertarian Brian Hartman will face the winner.

Silver Lake has five Republicans running for council. Those include Hugh Murfin, Chad Miner, Nichole Taylor, Phillip Shalley and Jerry Wagner.

In Mentone, two Republicans filed for clerk, Nicki Norris and Tammy Stoneburner.

Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan said the conventions will be open to registered Republicans living within the town limits. Dates for the four conventions have not been announced.

The need for the four conventions became apparent after Thursday’s filing deadline.

Each of the four towns will pick up the expense of conducting the conventions, Ragan said.

Below is a list of candidates filing for positions in the seven towns.

Claypool
Clerk
Charlotte Lindley, D
Patricia Warner, Libertarian (incumbent)

Council
Elizabeth Heiman, middle district, D (incumbent)
Niki Miller, North District, D (incumbent)
Eugene Warner, R (incumbent)
Benny Stage Jr., R

Etna Green
Clerk
Amanda “Mandy” Ewing, D
Patricia Cook, R (incumbent)
Council
Christopher Carter, R
Keith Claassen, R (incumbent)
Beverly Carter, R
Aaron Bakian, R
Susan Klinefelter, R
Kevin Smith II, R (incumbent)
Cory Ellinger, R (incumbent)
Jason W. Hanes, R

Leesburg
Clerk
Greg Anderson, R
Michael Searfoss, D (incumbent)
Council
Thomas Moore, R (incumbent)
Christina Archer, R (incumbent)
Doug Jones, R (incumbent)

Mentone
Clerk
Nicki Norris, R
Tammy Stoneburner, R

Council
Shelly Krueger, R (incumbent)
Jill Gross, R (incumbent)
Timothy Croy, D (incumbent)

North Webster
Clerk
Alice Luce, D (incumbent)
Council
David Waliczek, R (incumbent)
Dan Thystrup, R (incumbent)
Lisa Strombeck, R (incumbent)

Pierceton
Clerk
Jerry Kreger, R (incumbent)
Pamela Baker, R
Myra Mast, R
Brian Hartman, L
Council
Matthew Brubaker, R (incumbent)
Tom Barker, R (incumbent)
Armando Mandy Espinoza, D (incumbent)

Silver Lake
Clerk
Tonya Conley, R (incumbent)
Council
Hugh Murfin, R
Chad Miner, R (incumbent)
Nichole Taylor, R
Jerry Wagner, R
Phillip Shalley, R (incumbent)