Dear Editor,

There is only one ticket this year that was chosen by your friends and neighbors in the May primary election, and that is the Republican ticket. I am proud of the way that we Republicans choose our candidates.

Unlike the Democrats, whose candidates are typically slated to be on the ballot by their chairman, or the independents, who gather signatures that constitute a tiny fraction of the overall electorate, the Republican Party allows any voter who wishes to participate in the primary to have a say in who will be on the ballot for the November election. The result is always a spirited contest of ideas that benefits our whole community and gives us candidates who are tried, tested, and ready for the rigors of public office.

Jim Smith is an outstanding public servant who has dedicated his life to serving others. He is part of a rising generation of American leaders who selflessly volunteered to defend our freedoms by serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a man who is very secure in his beliefs and is willing to fight, no matter how nasty the opposition may get, for conservative principles. He is the very definition of a leader, and he is going to make an excellent sheriff.   

Brad Voelz is far and away the most qualified candidate for prosecuting attorney. His experience as an attorney in the criminal justice system spans three decades, and he has been the lead prosecutor, defense attorney, or judge in well over one hundred criminal jury trials. It’s one thing to promise to be tough on crime; it’s another thing entirely to have the skillset necessary to make that promise meaningful. When Brad Voelz promises to put criminals behind bars, you can know that his promise counts because he has decades of experience doing just that.

The Republican primary voters gave us a full ticket of candidates that also includes Tony Ciriello for County Council District 3; Jeanie Stackhouse for Wayne Township Trustee; Lance Grubbs, Gordon Nash, and Josh Spangle for Wayne Township Board; and too many others to list in a single letter. All are fantastic candidates who are worthy of your vote.  

Let’s make this year a conservative landslide. Vote for the Republican ticket on November 8.

Sincerely,
Mike Ragan
Chairman, Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee
Warsaw