County Demo Chairman Steve Haines Resigns
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
After six years of serving as chairman of the Kosciusko County Democratic Central Committee, Steve Haines resigned Wednesday.
"It takes someone with some innovative ideas to move the party along," said H. Dale Tucker, former Warsaw mayor and former Democratic county chairman. "As you know, we're a minority in this county. Steve has done a great job in attacking that problem."
Haines is leaving the post because of various personal reasons. He said he will not disappear from party activities but will continue to be active and will support the person who replaces him.
"I'm not going to walk away. I'm going to stay active," he said. "I may run again (sometime) for another position."
A party caucus will be held May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Warsaw Community Public Library to select a new chairman. The meeting is open to the public but only the 50 precinct committee and 30 vice committee members can vote.
"We would like to see everyone at the caucus," said Tucker.
A person does not have to be on the precinct committee to be the county chairman. Haines said that to be the chairman, a person needs to attend the meeting and win the voters over.
As far as responsibilities, he said, "The biggest ones are trying to find the precinct committee people, fund-raising, trying to find people to run for office," and working with other chairmen around the state.
In his term as chairman, Haines said, "Countywide ... I think we've made some pretty big gains."
Highlights of the past few years for him, he said, included having a Democratic headquarters downtown and an increase in the number of people who vote Democrat and who win as Democrats.
"That is a big step forward. And there's more people moving in here," Tucker said.
Haines also considers the Democrat Hall of Fame and the Democrat of the Year Award highlights of his term.
Some of the low points of his term, he said, included the 1998 county sheriff's race when Jeff Bronsing lost to Aaron Rovenstine. "Jeff Bronsing should have been sheriff," he said.
He also said that in last year's city elections, the Democrat party had three good candidates who failed to win city council seats.
"We need voters to pay attention to the candidates rather than the party," Haines said.
He pointed out councilman Joe Thallemer as an example of the current city council. Thallemer voted against Meijer's rezoning request at 900 Husky Trail as a member of the city plan commission but voted to continue the petition when the rezoning request came before the city council. Haines said Thallemer wavered under pressure.
Tucker said, "When you're in the council or in the mayor's seat, you better not have a thin skin. You better figure out what's best for the city, stick out your chin and take it."
Goals for the future for the Democrat party in Kosciusko County, Tucker said, are "to whip the Republicans."
"We're doing it outside of Warsaw," Haines said. "We need to do it in Warsaw and in Winona Lake."
The best way to achieve those goals, he said, were for the Democrats to have a women's organization and to get the young people back to the party. All people need to be more actively involved, Haines said. [[In-content Ad]]
After six years of serving as chairman of the Kosciusko County Democratic Central Committee, Steve Haines resigned Wednesday.
"It takes someone with some innovative ideas to move the party along," said H. Dale Tucker, former Warsaw mayor and former Democratic county chairman. "As you know, we're a minority in this county. Steve has done a great job in attacking that problem."
Haines is leaving the post because of various personal reasons. He said he will not disappear from party activities but will continue to be active and will support the person who replaces him.
"I'm not going to walk away. I'm going to stay active," he said. "I may run again (sometime) for another position."
A party caucus will be held May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Warsaw Community Public Library to select a new chairman. The meeting is open to the public but only the 50 precinct committee and 30 vice committee members can vote.
"We would like to see everyone at the caucus," said Tucker.
A person does not have to be on the precinct committee to be the county chairman. Haines said that to be the chairman, a person needs to attend the meeting and win the voters over.
As far as responsibilities, he said, "The biggest ones are trying to find the precinct committee people, fund-raising, trying to find people to run for office," and working with other chairmen around the state.
In his term as chairman, Haines said, "Countywide ... I think we've made some pretty big gains."
Highlights of the past few years for him, he said, included having a Democratic headquarters downtown and an increase in the number of people who vote Democrat and who win as Democrats.
"That is a big step forward. And there's more people moving in here," Tucker said.
Haines also considers the Democrat Hall of Fame and the Democrat of the Year Award highlights of his term.
Some of the low points of his term, he said, included the 1998 county sheriff's race when Jeff Bronsing lost to Aaron Rovenstine. "Jeff Bronsing should have been sheriff," he said.
He also said that in last year's city elections, the Democrat party had three good candidates who failed to win city council seats.
"We need voters to pay attention to the candidates rather than the party," Haines said.
He pointed out councilman Joe Thallemer as an example of the current city council. Thallemer voted against Meijer's rezoning request at 900 Husky Trail as a member of the city plan commission but voted to continue the petition when the rezoning request came before the city council. Haines said Thallemer wavered under pressure.
Tucker said, "When you're in the council or in the mayor's seat, you better not have a thin skin. You better figure out what's best for the city, stick out your chin and take it."
Goals for the future for the Democrat party in Kosciusko County, Tucker said, are "to whip the Republicans."
"We're doing it outside of Warsaw," Haines said. "We need to do it in Warsaw and in Winona Lake."
The best way to achieve those goals, he said, were for the Democrats to have a women's organization and to get the young people back to the party. All people need to be more actively involved, Haines said. [[In-content Ad]]