LaShawn Brumfield, currently the county recorder, is seeking the office of Wayne Township Trustee.

Current Trustee Dan Slone is seeking re-election and township employee Sheila Burner will be on the Republican primary ballot, too.

Brumfield has served two consecutive terms as recorder and may not seek that office again for four years.

She began working in the recorder's office in 1995. Former Recorder Alice Anglin encouraged Brumfield to seek the office.

"I probably could keep working there, but I'm looking for something part time," she said.

She is a single parent of two young children. Currently the office is open Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"The trustee's office will give me an opportunity to work with the public on a personal level. I love helping people find documents and feel good when they have what they need.

"Helping people in the trustee's office will be more gratifying on a personal level."

She attended Ivy Tech State College in Warsaw from 1992 to 1994 and graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School in 1990.

Brumfield said she knows the trustee's office is leased.

"Buying a building is a better way to go, renting is wasting money. But the office should stay close to the downtown."

Her goals for the office are to maintain good working relationships with public service agencies and to keep the office technologically up to date.

She is a member of the Warsaw Community Church and a t-ball coach for the Leesburg Summer Recreational League.

In her roll as recorder, Brumfield maintained public records, assisted taxpayers in recording and research, filed payroll and voucher claims and made decisions about technological upgrades for the office.

She prepared annual budgets for the office and estimated revenue reports.

She belongs to the Indiana Association of County Recorders and the Association of Indiana Counties.

Sheila Burner has announced her intention to run for Wayne Township Trustee. She has worked in the trustee's office since 2001.

Burner, wife of C. Robert Burner, owned and operated the first temporary employment agency in the county in 1978. She resigned as owner and manager of Starr Staffing in 1999.

Burner has worked in the Wayne Township Trustee's office since 2001, under Sheila Hodges, Beulah Fleagle and Dan Slone.

She said current trustee Dan Slone is "OK" with her competition for the office.

"A lot of people don't know we're there to help. This is work that makes me feel good."

Burner is a lifetime resident of Warsaw, graduating from Warsaw High School in 1958.

She has five children and 10 grandchildren. She attended Ball State College, is a member of St. Anne's Episcopal Church and belongs to Altrusa Business Club, is a member of the Beaman Home and Alternative Learning Center boards. She is a charter member of CASA.

"I wish we had a better facility, one that would be centrally located. We have a lot of people who walk or ride a bicycle. We could use more privacy when interviewing people and a lot more parking space."

She said she likes the concept of the Work Fair program, but would like to place people in other places besides the Warsaw street department, the Kosciusko County Recycling Depot and the Salvation Army.

"Some people have gotten jobs and I'd like to see something done to get more people working. Some people just need to be pushed. Others are too proud to ask for help."

Burner said she really likes working with people.

"As you can see, I have many years of experience working with people and I believe I have the experience needed for this office."

Dan Slone of Warsaw is seeking re-election as the Wayne Township Trustee.

Slone has held the office since 2002.

He is one of three candidates on the Republican primary ballot, along with Sheila Burner, who also works in the trustee's office, and LaShawn Brumfield, who must leave the county recorder's office at the end of the year.

During his four years in office, Slone started a Work Fair, requiring people who receive township poor relief to work off their aid.

"We send people to the (Warsaw) street department or the Salvation Army to work off the money they received," he said. "Several have been hired, and ended up with a better job than when they came in."

Slone said he spends time investigating poor relief clients to make sure they're eligible for funds, and visiting with senior citizens who are homebound.

During his tenure the township expenditures have been reduced from $1.3 million in 2003 to $784,000 in 2005. Part of the reduction was due to frugality, part to budget cuts.

He admits to rough patches, like when Chuck Hogan died in the office. Former Tippecanoe Township Trustee Dick Mitchell then stepped in to handle the finances.

The trustee and two staff members work with people seeking poor relief funds.

Slone would like to have a new office, owned by the township, where more parking is available.

He thinks Multi-Township EMS needs a new ambulance base, too.

Slone is a member of God's Highway to Heaven Church, the Indiana Trustees Association and on the Warsaw Housing Authority board.

He is married to Doreen; the couple has two sons and a daughter.

He said after four years in office he's had plenty of experience for the job.

He was born in Kentucky and attended Warsaw schools. Prior to being trustee he worked in the restaurant industry. [[In-content Ad]]