By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Six candidates – four Democrats and two Republicans – have filed the paperwork to appear on their party’s respective primary ballots. The primary election in Indiana has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 2, and requires voters to choose either the Democrat or Republican ballot and allows party members to select their candidates to appear on the general ballot for the election to be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Following is a list of candidates seeking their party’s nomination:

Democrats

Chip Coldiron, Wells County — Coldiron attended the Northern Wells Community Schools district, graduating from Norwell High School. Upon graduation from high school, he began studying biology at the University of Saint Francis and was a member of the school’s inaugural football team. He transferred to Indiana University Bloomington and graduated with a degree in biology, as well as a degree in political science/economics. Following graduation, Coldiron enlisted in the Army, serving on active duty from 2005-10. During that time, he deployed twice to Afghanistan as an infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division. In 2012, Coldiron earned his Masters’s degree in education from Indiana University. He currently teaches science at Norwell High School.

Jean Paul B. Kalonji, Fort Wayne — Kalonji did not respond to The Mail-Journal’s request for information. His online presence notes he is the owner of LaRoche Carrier LLC in Fort Wayne and is formerly a network design engineer for Frontier Communications.

Carlos Marcano Jr., Roanoke — While born in Hawaii, Marcano’s family eventually settled in northeast Indiana. He attended New Haven High School, graduating in 2003. He attended IPFW while working two jobs where he planned to major in mechanical engineering. The opportunity to go into business with his father in 2007 was a key factor in his decision to not complete his degree. Carlos’s experiences leading up to and as a business owner have provided him with the insight and perspective to represent the district. Marcano noted he will prioritize health care, a livable wage and removing corruption from politics by supporting legislation that will enhance the quality of life in northeast Indiana and the nation.

Tommy Schrader, Fort Wayne — Schrader, who did not respond to a request for information, is a frequent political candidate, having most recently challenged Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry in the 2019 Democrat primary election. He has appeared on the ballot for the Indiana Third Congressional District Seat in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, and was a 2015 candidate for an at-large seat on the Fort Wayne
City Council.

Republicans

Jim Banks, Columbia City — Banks currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Indiana’s Third Congressional District. He serves on the Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Science, and Education and the Workforce committees. Prior to his service in Congress, Banks was a commercial real estate broker for The Bradley Company in Fort Wayne. He earned his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his Master of business administration from Grace College and Seminary. He serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve and took a leave of absence from the Indiana State Senate in 2014 and 2015 to deploy to Afghanistan as a supply corps officer during Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel. He received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his military leadership in Afghanistan.

Dr. Chris Magiera, Warsaw — A fourth-generation Hoosier of Polish ancestry, Magiera is a board-certified gastroenterologist and has been practicing medicine for more than 37 years. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, in Cleveland. He has acquired a wealth of diverse life experiences, having lived in seven states, holding medical licenses in six and having practiced medicine in three: Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana. In 2012, Magiera, and his wife, Dr. Pam Galloway, moved back to Indiana for family reasons. Magiera and his wife have been politically involved as activists for the last 20 years, mostly concerning the politics of medicine. While living in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker appointed Magiera to the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board.