Jon Garber is pictured with Kimberly Cates during a previous Kosciusko County Council meeting. InkFreeNews file photo.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW – Another Kosciusko County Councilman has announced he will not seek re-election in 2022.

At the tail end of the Council’s meeting Thursday night, District 4 Councilman Jon Garber read a prepared statement announcing he will not seek another term. His announcement follows District 3 Councilman Ernie Wiggins’ confirmation last week that he would not seek re-election.

In his statement, Garber said, “At the completion of my current term of office that will end Dec. 31, 2022, I will have served 10 years and 8 months as District 4 County Councilman. Prior to my service to the county, I was employed 37 years by the Warsaw City Parks and Recreation Department – 27 of those years as superintendent. Therefore, with a combined total of approximately 48 years of governmental service, I have decided now is the time to step away and open the pathway to new and refreshing thoughts and ideas.”

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve on the County Council. I have developed a strong personal and professional working relationship with past and current Council members that I will always cherish. Additionally, I have gotten to know and appreciate the dedication and commitment of county department heads and their employees.”

To the Council, department heads and employees, Garber offered them a “heartfelt big thank you.”

Finally, he thanked the constituents of Kosciusko County District 4 for “having trust and faith in my leadership by re-electing me to represent them. To all citizens of Kosciusko County, I have tried to look at all sides of an issue, and to make my voting decisions on what I believe to be best for you and the county. I hope I have served you well.”

The County Council is made up of seven members, with four representing districts and three at-large members. All of them are Republicans. The at-large members are Sue Ann Mitchell, Joni Truex and Kathleen Groninger, who were elected or re-elected to the Council in 2020. 

Along with Garber representing District 4 and Wiggins for District 3, Mike Long represents District 2 and Kimberly Cates is District 1. Long and Cates have not yet officially announced whether they plan to seek re-election next year.