Watching the Indiana House District 18 race initially unfold, I’m guessing this is not how the Republican Party in Kosciusko County would like to see the transfer of power begin for one of the longest-serving local lawmakers in Indiana, State Rep. Dave Wolkins.

While there are apparently numerous people in the Warsaw area interested in running for the seat, the weeks leading up to the filing period, (which began Wednesday) was beset by indecision and mixed signals.

First, Wolkins struggled with whether to run again and decided to retire a little more than a week before the filing period began. His exit came at the same time Alan Alderfer’s name rose to the top among potential candidates. Alderfer announced plans to run on Dec. 30 and received a tepid endorsement from Wolkins but then chose to drop out of the race on Tuesday, Jan. 7, citing family issues.

So will others now reconsider? Names like Randy Polston, Craig Snow and County GOP Chair Mike Ragan have been bandied about for weeks. Will one of them step up? Ragan told me Friday he will not.

And what about Kristi Ormsby, who ran Wolkins’ most recent campaign and worked with him closely at the General Assembly in 2019. The Chapman Lake resident is active in the party and was being urged by many to run, but she’s also struggled with indecision. Earlier this week on Facebook, she openly contemplated running. As of Friday, word had spread that she would not file, but Ormsby texted me later saying she has not ruled it out.

Russ Reahard

District 18 includes all of Wabash County and parts of Kosciusko, Grant and Miami counties, but for some, the upcoming state house race could be a border war pitting candidates from Wabash against those from Kosciusko.

Russ Reahard, a Republican from Wabash who ran and lost to Wolkins in the last election, is the only candidate to file so far, according to the Indiana Secretary of State’s website. He announced his plans Friday afternoon. But Republicans in Kosciusko County prefer their own candidate and are concerned that Reahard is too focused on abortion and guns.

From the Kosciusko perspective, the race is wide-open. This odd collision of circumstances – as awkward as it has been – has left some frustrated, but I’m guessing the things will shake out and come into focus next week.

The month-long filing period ends on Feb. 7.

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CENSUS CONCERN – Mayor Joe Thallemer said the city will host some meetings to amplify the importance of participating in the 2020 US Census.

Parts of the city were identified by the Census as having a participation rate of less than 75 percent and Thallemer wants to see that improve so that Census figures more accurately portray the city’s population and the city receives as much federal money for various programs as possible.

“We’re going to pull groups together and try to identify areas that are under-counted,” Thallemer told the council Monday night, Jan. 6.

Thallemer said he wants to organize some meetings to get the word out. “We publicly need to make folks understand how important this is,” he said.

Councilman Michael Klondaris applauded Thallemer’s efforts to carry out a “strategic plan” for the city amid so much growth and said he looks forward to seeing the result of the Census. “It’s going to be so interesting to see what the Census tells us about our community,” Klondaris said. “It’s certainly more than 14,500.”

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TOLL ROAD JOE – Kosciusko County Democrats mourned the death of a former party treasurer, Joe Rauen, who died Monday after suffering a stroke. In 2006, Rauen ran for state representative, campaigned in opposition to the “sale” of the Indiana Toll Road and was coined “Toll Road Joe,” according to a party newsletter posted this week.

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STATE OF THE STATE –  Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb will deliver his State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 14, to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly in the House of Representatives chamber. The address will begin at 7 p.m.  

Local Republicans will gather at GOP headquarters (123 W. Center St.) in Warsaw for a watch party beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Or you can watch it online at https://indiana.adobeconnect.com/indiana.

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BUTTIGIEG ON FOX NEWS –  Conservative viewers (and liberals) will soon get another opportunity for a look at former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Fox News will host a town hall with Buttigieg on Jan. 26 from Des Moines, Iowa. The town hall, which will be moderated by “Fox News Sunday” anchor Chris Wallace, comes one week before the Iowa caucuses.

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Dan Spalding is the editor at InkFreeNews.com.
He covers city government and politics and always welcomes your input.
He can be reached at [email protected] or at (574) 855-7612.