WINONA LAKE - All the council candidates for Warsaw's District 5 and those in the at-large race participated in Tuesday's Young Republican forum in Westminster Hall.

The candidates were to discuss political offices they've held, qualifications for office and to name the top two or three issues facing the council. Times-Union Managing Editor Gary Gerard served as moderator for the event.

Five people stepped forward to answer questions about Warsaw's 5th District: incumbent Bill Rhoades and challengers Steve Brown, Alan Clingan, Carl Sowers and Bruce Woodward.

All the candidates said the second wastewater treatment plant, curbing and sidewalks and transportation through the city are concerns.

Woodward, current president of the Board of Zoning Appeals, said his experience as a real estate broker made him the best candidate for the council seat. He has served on the mayor's task force, the housing task force and the city and county's long-range planning committee.

"I manage $5 million worth of properties," the Warsaw native said. "My family has been involved in real estate development. I've helped put the needed groundwork for growth in place.

"I know the people, see the problems and the solutions. I know how how the community works."

Referring to Warsaw's lakes as jewels, Woodward suggested a task force be established to work with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to protect the lakes.

Woodward said he's been attending council meetings for seven years, through two administrations.

"We need to plan zoning areas for possible annexation by the city 20 to 30 years down the road, so we're not correcting problems after the fact.

"We need more Spanish-speaking police officers," Woodward added.

Clingan respectively disagreed with Woodward, saying he was the best candidate for the council position. Also a BZA member and a member of the plan commission, he said he has been involved with discussions about the Western Route Project under consideration by the county.

Clingan moved to the area in 1988 as a Grace College student and "I liked what I saw here." Living in other states he said he's seen how growth happens without planning.

"It may sound dull to most folks, but I actually read planning books."

Saying the community is the heart of the city, Clingan said small lots detract from neighborhoods. He wants to see the completion of the Lake City Greenway.

"Quality of life attracts industry. Let's focus on efficiencies. Warsaw is a very attractive place to live."

Brown, a 20-year veteran officer of the Warsaw Police Department, said he is the current animal and ordinance control officer.

Born and raised in Warsaw, he said his job keeps him in regular contact with people and he listens to their concerns.

He said vacant buildings need to be filled, more industry needs to come in and the channels, ditches and creeks need to be cleaned up.

Rhodes, in his first term as councilman, serves on the traffic commission and on the sign committee.

"Since all the other candidates have mentioned how long they've lived here," Rhoades said. "I have to say I've lived in Warsaw 70 years."

Rhoades said the during his career with Worthington Industries, he traveled the country working with engineering and maintenance professionals. "From that standpoint, I'm qualified for many things, even when it comes to streets.

"But the street superintendent has the streets well in hand.

"I'm very much for the second wastewater treatment plant but the costs are not over yet. There's upkeep and the hiring of eight to 10 people there."

Rhoades said as president of the Pike Lake Association, he knows, through the DNR's Riverwatch Program, the lakes aren't healthy.

"I want to see them healthy for my children, my grandchildren, everyone."

Sowers said he had no political experience but has served as a Cub Scout Master for six years. He is a member of the Young Tiger Football organization.

A 19-year resident, Sowers said a viaduct installation for the north-south railroad tracks is of vital importance to the community, so emergency medical services won't have to go to U.S. 30 to get to the west side of town during an emergency.

He said being on the council would be a challenge. He wants to see enforcement of building codes.

"Let's update houses, get yards picked up and give the building inspector enough resources to do the job." He suggested the town attract a major brand name store so more people would shop downtown.

At Large Candidates

At large council incumbents Trish Brown and Joe Thallemer sat with challengers Dewey Lawshe and Bob Morrison. Voters will select two at-large candidates in the May 6 primary.

Morrison said he served 42 years on the Fort Wayne police department, which gave him plenty of political experience. He also is a military veteran.

"Leadership means taking responsibility. Leadership is the main thing I bring to the council."

Morrison said the community has to be workable, livable and affordable. To make it workable we must go after jobs. To improve its livability the water system has to be improved.

"We already have good police and fire departments, but U.S. government workers get an extra $120 just to live here. Why is that?"

Lawshe served on the council from 1996 to 2000, calling it the greatest experience of his life. He served on the aviation board and currently on the plan commission, "which I dearly love doing."

While on the council, Lawshe visited each department on Wednesday, known as "Dewey day," he said. "I enjoyed every minute of it"

As a local barber, he hears a lot of complaints and solutions to problems from people all over the city.

Lawshe said getting the second wastewater treatment plant established will bring in more industry and housing.

"One of most wonderful things that is happening is the city and county working together," the former cross-country truck driver said. "There's not a finer place to live in all the world than Warsaw."

Brown, former executive director of the Warsaw Community Development Corp., began her first council term in 2000. She serves on the traffic commission, the BZA and aviation board. She is a delegate to the Republican state convention and a precinct committeewoman.

"Government can and should do better," Brown said. "We have to have the mindset that the taxpayer is the customer and customer service must improve."

She said part of that improvement would be a user-friendly city Web site with permit application capabilities and more general information.

"We should also look at job descriptions so employees aren't duplicating services."

She said a unified infrastructure is a huge community concern and that Warsaw is 10 years behind in rerouting transportation. The city should "maintain quality as industry moves in."

Thallemer's first political position was an appointment to the plan commission in 1997. He was elected to his council post 3-1/2 years ago. He sat on the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District board of directors and headed the city's curbside recycling task fore.

Thallemer said membership on the plan commission has been a good education in city and state endeavors.

"Leadership is listening to people to make good, responsible choices," Thallemer said. "As a resident and small business owner, I am fiscally responsible."

He said economic development, the second wastewater treatment plant, completing the downtown action plan and the western corridor will have a huge impact on the community

"Long-range planning, planning that reflects controlled growth, should be encouraged, so we act, not react," Thallemer said. [[In-content Ad]]