Kosciusko County GOP Secretary Austin Rovenstine, right, swears in Ashley McGinnis as a Winona Lake Town Council member on Tuesday, Dec. 13. She was caucused in to replace Denny Duncan who recently resigned due to being elected to the Warsaw Community School Board. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — Ashley McGinnis is the newest member of the Winona Lake Town Council.

McGinnis, 34, was caucused in to the council’s Ward 2 seat by the Kosciusko County Republican Party on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Winona Lake Town Hall.

She was chosen to fill out the remaining year left of Denny Duncan’s term. Duncan recently resigned due to winning election to the Warsaw Community School Board.

Though McGinnis was the only applicant for the seat, GOP precinct committeemen representing Winona Lake still voted on her approval Tuesday. They were Dr. Steve Hollar, Lynn Howie, Mark Nunez and Bruce Shaffner.

Kosciusko County GOP Secretary Austin Rovenstine, who ran the caucus due to GOP Chair Mike Ragan being absent for health reasons, mentioned that McGinnis would still need to get at least one vote Tuesday to be caucused in, which she did. If that didn’t happen, county GOP leadership would have to appoint Duncan’s replacement.

“Thank you, everybody. I greatly appreciate everyone’s support,” she said after the vote to those gathered. “I’m very lucky to have all of you in my circle.”

McGinnis reiterated to media members after the meeting her desire to take budget training among other things to prepare her for the council role, which she had previously mentioned in a press release announcing her candidacy.

She noted that her serving on the Winona Lake Park Board helped prepare her to be on the council. Winona Lake Parks Director Holly Hummitch, who came to the caucus to support McGinnis, told InkFreeNews that McGinnis would have to be replaced on the park board due to her new role.

McGinnis also referenced a goal of hers while serving on the council was “just focusing … on what we can do for the community, where we can do good and where we can grow and where we can make it better and all those great things.”

She told media members she became interested in public service upon returning to the area about five years ago after living in Florida. McGinnis said she paid attention to politics on a national scale “and some of it was just really frustrating and some of it was great.”

She said she thought about then, “How can I do better for where I’m at and how can I make an impact and how can I keep this place that’s so special … this way?”

McGinnis also said she plans to file to run for a full four-year term on the council.

McGinnis, right, addresses county GOP precinct committeemen representing Winona Lake from left, Mark Nunez, Dr. Steve Hollar, Lynn Howie and Bruce Shaffner, before they took a vote at the caucus. Rovenstine stands in the background.