Contested Races Found On Republican Primary Ballot Tuesday
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — This year’s May primary focuses on town/city elections in Warsaw, Nappanee, Syracuse and Winona Lake. Registered voters residing within the boundaries of these towns and cities will have candidates running for office on both the Republican and Democrat ballots. However, the contested races are within the Republican party.
Warsaw Contested Races
Warsaw will have two contested races on the Republican ballot for the primary. Voters will be deciding who gets the nomination for the November elections for the office of May and the two seats on the city common council at-large positions.
City Councilman Ron Shoemaker is challenging Incumbent Joe Thallemer in the highly contested race for mayor. The other race on the city ballot is between Cindy A. Dobbins and Jack Wilhite, both incumbents and Juergen L. Voss for the two seats open on the city’s common council at-large seats.
In uncontested nominations on the Republican ballot will be incumbent candidates Jeff R. Grose for common council district 1; Michael Klondaris, common council district 3, William G. (Jerry) Frush, common council District 4 and Diane L. Quance, common council District 5. Josh Finch is seeking the common council District 2 seat currently held by Shoemaker.
Incumbent Lynne A. Christiansen is running unopposed on the ticket for the nomination of clerk-treasurer.
On the Democrat ticket, three individuals are seeking the nominations for three of the city common council seats.
Sara M. McNeal-Strahan-Lenfestey is seeking the common council District 1 nomination; Roxanne Coffelt is seeking the common council District 3 seat and Jack J. Brunetto is seeking the common council District 5 seat.
Race At Syracuse
Registered voters in the town limits of Syracuse will be choosing a Republican nominee for the position of clerk-treasurer. Virginia Cazier is challenging incumbent Paula Kehr-Wicker for that seat.
Unopposed candidates on the Republican ballot include Tom Hoover, council District 3 seat; Larry Martindale, council District 4 seat; and Bill Musser, council District 5 seat. All three are unopposed on the Republican Ballot.
Tim Yeager was the only Democrat putting his name on the ballot. Yeager will be seeking the nomination for clerk-treasurer.
Winona Race For Council Seat
Winona Lake voters on the Republican ballots will be deciding who receives the nomination for the town council District 1 seat.
Theila Banta and Jim Zachery are seeking the nomination for District 1. Banta is the incumbent candidate.
Additional candidates on the Republican ballot will be Kent Adams seeking re-election for clerk-treasurer; Denny Duncan, town council District 2 and Heather James, town council District 4. All three are incumbents.
There will be no Democrat candidates on the ballot.
Nappanee To Have Four Races
Republican registered voters of Kosciusko County residing within the town limits of Nappanee will have four races to decide in that city’s election.
Races will be for clerk-treasurer, common council at-large and common council Districts 2 and 4.
Incumbent Kathy L. Brown is being challenged by Jeffrey P. Knight for the clerk-treasurer’s nomination.
Jacob Dermott, incumbent, is being challenged for his council-at-large seat by Denny Miller and Anna Huff, incumbent is being challenged by Edd Shepherd for the council District 2 seat. Two newcomers Alan Duncan and Brandie Yoder are seeking the nomination for the council District 4 seat.
Other Republican candidates to appear on the ballot for the city will be Christopher G. Walter, city court judge, Todd Nunemaker, council District 1 seat and Amy Rosa, council District 3 seat. All three are incumbent candidates.
There will be no Democrat candidates on the ballot.