By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — A third candidate is trying for an open spot on the Leesburg Town Council.

Mitchell “Mitch” Rader joins Darrin Lincoln and Amanda Brookins-Bibler in seeking to fill the vacancy made by Republican Doug Jones’ resignation from the council. Jones’ resignation is effective Saturday, Dec. 31.

Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Rader

Kosciusko County GOP Chair Mike Ragan will appoint one of the three to the spot in lieu of a caucus. Rules allow for that action as only one Republican precinct committeeman would be eligible to vote in a caucus.

“I’ve been a lifelong Leesburg resident,” Rader told InkFreeNews. He works as a department superintendent at Dalton Corp. in Warsaw.

He’s served on the Plain Township Fire Department for 45 years, spending 30 of them in various officer roles, including as fire chief, and was president of the county fire association for 13 years. Rader also served for four years as Leesburg’s clerk-treasurer.

He noted his public service work has given him experience with government budgets.

“I have decided to seek the position with the Leesburg Town Council to continue to further the work the present council has undertaken,” he said in a statement provided to InkFreeNews. “I also wish to explore available local, state and federal funding that may be available to the town to assist in economic and community development.”

“With most of my community service being dedicated to the Plain Township Fire Department and serving as president of the Kosciusko Fire Association, I feel I can now direct my community service to helping in governing the town that I have called home for all these years,” he also said in the statement.