By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

Chauncey Smith

PIERCETON — Chauncey Smith has filed a declaration of candidacy for a vacant Pierceton Town Council seat.

Former council member Eric Trump submitted his letter of resignation from the council on May 20, citing health issues as his reason for stepping down.

Smith works for the Kosciusko County Highway Department and has lived in the Pierceton area for 28 years. He and his wife moved into town limits two years ago. Smith also served on the Pierceton Fire Department for 17 years, retiring from the department two years ago.

Smith has three children and seven grandchildren, plus one on the way.

In 2023, Smith ran for a seat on the council and said all of the individuals who were running at that time were “all on the same page, all wanted the same thing.”

“I want to make a difference and be there for the people,” said Smith. “It’s not an ‘I,’ it’s a ‘we.’ Whatever comes up, I want to listen to people and go from there, and work together as a council.”

One priority Smith has for the town is getting areas alongside SR 13 looking better in order to draw in visitors, help the local businesses grow, and bring in more residents.

The caucus to fill the vacancy on the Pierceton Town Council will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 20, in the Pierceton Town Council Chamber. Eligible candidates must reside in Pierceton and be a Republican in good standing. Declarations of candidacy are available in the office of the Kosciusko County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw, and must be filed with Mike Ragan, county Republican chairman, no later than 72 hours prior to the start of the caucus.

The voting caucus will be eligible Republican Precinct Committee members of Washington Township, who have served 30 days prior to the date of the caucus.

The board member will be elected by secret ballot of the majority of the members of the caucus to fill the vacancy.