County Clerk Says Sidney Was Regularly Informed Of Upcoming Elections
WARSAW – Kosciusko County Clerk Ann Torpy is taking exception to one of the claims made Monday night by Sidney Town Council members in trying to explain why the town had not been hosting municipal elections.
Sidney Clerk-Treasurer Lana Wolfe and council member Rickey Bradley resigned effective Tuesday, Jan. 14 after it came to light that neither had been elected or properly appointed.
Another board member, Kenneth Koontz, also simultaneously resigned over health issues, leaving Jack Wolfe the only elected official in town until Kosciusko County party leaders for Democrats and Republicans can appoint newly-elected officials through the political caucus process.
Bradley and Jack Wolfe wondered out loud why officials had not noticed the problems associated with elections.
Torpy is on the county election board and oversees elections.
Torpy said she sends letters to each town clerk notifying them of the upcoming election the following year and includes a cost estimate for conducting an election.
“I find it funny that Lana’s been clerk since 1987 and doesn’t remember she needs to run every four years,” Torpy said.
She said Wolfe told her nobody filed to run in the 2019 municipal elections in hopes others would step forward.
Lana Wolfe was defeated in an election by Marcia Dierks, who then quit after a few months. Wolfe stepped back into the role but was never appointed by a caucus.
Neither Lana nor Jack Wolfe could be reached for comment.
Republicans are expected to hold a caucus on Jan. 23 to replace Wolfe and Bradley. The Democrats have not yet finalized their plan to replace Koontz.