By Tim Ashley
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Incumbent Robert “Bob” Conley is being challenged by three candidates for the Republican nomination for southern district Kosciusko County Commissioners in the May 3 primary election. No Democrat candidate has yet to file.

Conley is a barber in Warsaw and also serves on the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission.

Other candidates include Elaine Kokenge, a technician at Kosciusko Community Hospital.

Brian Pyle is a local attorney and serves on the Purdue Extension board of directors in Kosciusko County.

Don Wiesehan Jr. works for the Parkview Health Police Department in Fort Wayne, is a retired Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy and was also a Winona Lake police officer.

The Mail-Journal asked each candidate three questions and here are their responses.

What do you see as the most important issue in Kosciusko County and how do you plan to address it?

Conley: “Fiscal responsibility. We as a county apply for and receive a tremendous amount of grant monies both from the federal government as well as the State of Indiana. During the year of 2021 we were granted $11.4 million. This is money we have paid in taxes that the federal/state over collects. If we write grants, they will pay it back. At all departments of county government, we as commissioners encourage grant writing. It helps with budgeting in a very real way. Our current fiscal status is very solvent.”

Kokenge: “We don’t know what the future holds, but we best be planning for long term fixes. On a hometown personal level affecting all the county, we have taxpayers not getting their needs met under the current administration. Throughout Kosciusko County blue road markers are not getting their roads plowed. To these people it affects them more than the bypass ever will.”

Pyle: “The most important issue facing Kosciusko County is promoting economic growth within the county while maintaining the community values that are core to our identity. It is difficult to attract small businesses into an area in need of economic growth when the roads are in desperate need of repair. Our roads need improvement to accommodate the type of traffic traveling on them as well. Our county is blessed with lakes, streams and rivers. The county needs to create a parks and recreation department to develop these amenities, and be a gateway for state and federal funds to flow into the county.”

Wiesehan: “Maintaining infrastructure is a vital part of our county’s economical development and growth. I would like to seek out the possibilities of funding through grants from the federal and state governments. Look into using the American Rescue Act funding to assist the offsetting of the cost to the taxpayers during these projects.”

Please state why you feel you are qualified to hold the office of a county commissioner.

Conley: ”I am currently your county commissioner. Kosciusko County is both fiscally and structurally sound. A big part of what we do is the maintenance of all of our buildings, equipment and grounds including the jail work release center, the old courthouse, Justice Building and highway department.”

Kokenge: “I’m a Ball State graduate with a BFA. I’m running for commissioner because I can make a difference. I listen. Thus, why not me?”

Pyle: “The county commissioners are responsible for drafting ordinances, which are local laws, and maintaining county buildings. As an attorney, I recognize the impact of these ordinances on the county as a whole and whether they have a legitimate need for the whole county. I earned a Bachelor’s in Agriculture and a second Bachelor’s in Forestry from Purdue University. These degrees and my position on the Purdue Extension board give me an understanding of the challenges that affect our agricultural and lakes communities. My time in military service sent me around the United States and the world. During that time I was able to learn how other communities have addressed the same issues we are currently facing in Kosciusko County.”

Wiesehan: “As a former county employee, I got to see first hand the inter working of our county government. During my 25 years as a sheriff’s deputy, I had many different roles within the department. Writing policies, working within the department’s operating budget and serving as the jail commander for five years are just a few of the roles that have prepared me for holding the office of county commissioner.”

Please give a brief statement adding anything you feel is important.

Conley: “Being a Kosciusko County Commissioner has its challenges, but working with the other two commissioners and sharing the tasks makes our county unique. We listen to our constituents and each other and work for the common good from declaring Kosciusko County a Second Amendment sanctuary county, by bringing dialogue to critical race theory, maintaining and promoting sound decision making to protect the health and safety of all residents.”

Kokenge: “As a commissioner, we would vote and get the plowing approved.”

Pyle: “As a county commissioner, I will strive to promote economic growth and maintain our core community values.”

Wiesehan: “By working together and communicating with county council, commissioners and department heads is vital in maintaining consistency in our county government and moving it forward. I am a strong supporter of term limits; having them in place creates a better government by allowing new ideas and perspectives being brought to the table.”