GOP Picks Wilcoxson, Rancourt, Hurd; Demos Choose Parrett
January 24, 2020 at 2:14 a.m.
GOP Picks Wilcoxson, Rancourt, Hurd; Demos Choose Parrett
By David [email protected]
During the Republican caucus Thursday night, Debbie L. Wilcoxson, Pierceton, was named to the Jackson Township Advisory Board over Tom Brainard, North Manchester. It took two votes for Precinct Committeeman Josh Spangle and Vice Precinct Committeeman Ryan Reed – serving as a proxy for Tony Ciriello – to make the decision.
Wilcoxson replaces Marsha Dierks, who resigned from the board effective Jan. 1 due to her moving out of the township. Dierks was elected Nov. 6, 2018, for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Wilcoxson will now complete Dierks’ term, which expires Dec. 31, 2022.
Wilcoxson and Brainard were both allowed three minutes to speak to the caucus before the voting commenced.
In her comments, Wilcoxson said she’s lived in Jackson Township for her entire life. She worked for Whitko Schools for 16 years, most of that time as a school treasurer. For the past 19 years, she’s been at Zimmer Biomet. She and her husband, Steve, have been married 44 years and have three children and five grandchildren.
Following the township caucus, Kosciusko County Republican Party Chairman Mike Ragan appointed Etta Hurd to complete the remaining term of Lana Wolfe, who resigned as town of Sidney clerk-treasurer effective Jan. 14. Hurd’s term will end Dec. 31, 2023.
Hurd thanked Ragan for having the confidence in her to appoint her to the position. She told the citizens of Sidney that she hoped she could instill their trust and confidence in her as clerk-treasurer.
“I just hope I don’t let anyone down. I’ll do my best that I can,” Hurd said. “I think one of the most important things I want to do is have the communication and transparency for the citizens here of Sidney. That means a lot, I think, to everybody to have that transparency and know that we can communicate if anything arises that you need the answers to.”
Later Hurd said she believes in term limits and she probably won’t seek re-election.
Ragan then appointed Sharon Rancourt to the Sidney Town Board, replacing Ricky Bradley who resigned effective Jan. 14 because Bradley, like Lana Wolfe, were serving improperly.
Rancourt said she’s been a resident of Sidney for 11 years. Now that her daughter is grown, she said it’s a perfect time to dedicate and give to the community.
She said she wants to help the community move foward.
Hurd and Rancourt were the only two people who filed for the positions by Monday’s deadline. As the Republican Party chair, Ragan had to make the appointments because the town of Sidney only has one precinct committeeman, and per Indiana law when that happens the party chair appoints the new person.
The appointments are effective immediately, Ragan said.
After the caucus and Republican appointments were made, Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chairman Brian Smith announced he planned to appoint Gavin Parrett, 22, to the town board. Parrett replaces Kenneth Koontz, who resigned effective Jan. 14 due to the other resignations and his health. Smith said Parrett’s appointment will be made official Tuesday at the county clerk’s office in Warsaw.
Parrett just graduated from Earlham College in December, with a major in politics. He’s lived in Sidney eight years. It’s his first political experience.
Smith said, “It’s hard to find experienced Democrats, but I’m glad Gavin stepped forward and gave me a call.” He said he was “very impressed” with Parrett’s background and willingness to serve.
Parrett said he wanted to serve because, “It’s an interesting foot in the door. When I read about this in the newspaper, I was surprised at how people were being removed from office, let’s put it that way. And so when I came in I thought this would be an interesting opportunity to get my foot in politics and see the world behind Sidney, Indiana.”
Smith said they also talked about the response time of the EMS, and Parrett said there also were other well-known issues in the town that need to be addressed.
The other Sidney Town Board member is Jack Wolfe, a Democrat, who did not have to resign and remains on the board.
During the Republican caucus Thursday night, Debbie L. Wilcoxson, Pierceton, was named to the Jackson Township Advisory Board over Tom Brainard, North Manchester. It took two votes for Precinct Committeeman Josh Spangle and Vice Precinct Committeeman Ryan Reed – serving as a proxy for Tony Ciriello – to make the decision.
Wilcoxson replaces Marsha Dierks, who resigned from the board effective Jan. 1 due to her moving out of the township. Dierks was elected Nov. 6, 2018, for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Wilcoxson will now complete Dierks’ term, which expires Dec. 31, 2022.
Wilcoxson and Brainard were both allowed three minutes to speak to the caucus before the voting commenced.
In her comments, Wilcoxson said she’s lived in Jackson Township for her entire life. She worked for Whitko Schools for 16 years, most of that time as a school treasurer. For the past 19 years, she’s been at Zimmer Biomet. She and her husband, Steve, have been married 44 years and have three children and five grandchildren.
Following the township caucus, Kosciusko County Republican Party Chairman Mike Ragan appointed Etta Hurd to complete the remaining term of Lana Wolfe, who resigned as town of Sidney clerk-treasurer effective Jan. 14. Hurd’s term will end Dec. 31, 2023.
Hurd thanked Ragan for having the confidence in her to appoint her to the position. She told the citizens of Sidney that she hoped she could instill their trust and confidence in her as clerk-treasurer.
“I just hope I don’t let anyone down. I’ll do my best that I can,” Hurd said. “I think one of the most important things I want to do is have the communication and transparency for the citizens here of Sidney. That means a lot, I think, to everybody to have that transparency and know that we can communicate if anything arises that you need the answers to.”
Later Hurd said she believes in term limits and she probably won’t seek re-election.
Ragan then appointed Sharon Rancourt to the Sidney Town Board, replacing Ricky Bradley who resigned effective Jan. 14 because Bradley, like Lana Wolfe, were serving improperly.
Rancourt said she’s been a resident of Sidney for 11 years. Now that her daughter is grown, she said it’s a perfect time to dedicate and give to the community.
She said she wants to help the community move foward.
Hurd and Rancourt were the only two people who filed for the positions by Monday’s deadline. As the Republican Party chair, Ragan had to make the appointments because the town of Sidney only has one precinct committeeman, and per Indiana law when that happens the party chair appoints the new person.
The appointments are effective immediately, Ragan said.
After the caucus and Republican appointments were made, Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chairman Brian Smith announced he planned to appoint Gavin Parrett, 22, to the town board. Parrett replaces Kenneth Koontz, who resigned effective Jan. 14 due to the other resignations and his health. Smith said Parrett’s appointment will be made official Tuesday at the county clerk’s office in Warsaw.
Parrett just graduated from Earlham College in December, with a major in politics. He’s lived in Sidney eight years. It’s his first political experience.
Smith said, “It’s hard to find experienced Democrats, but I’m glad Gavin stepped forward and gave me a call.” He said he was “very impressed” with Parrett’s background and willingness to serve.
Parrett said he wanted to serve because, “It’s an interesting foot in the door. When I read about this in the newspaper, I was surprised at how people were being removed from office, let’s put it that way. And so when I came in I thought this would be an interesting opportunity to get my foot in politics and see the world behind Sidney, Indiana.”
Smith said they also talked about the response time of the EMS, and Parrett said there also were other well-known issues in the town that need to be addressed.
The other Sidney Town Board member is Jack Wolfe, a Democrat, who did not have to resign and remains on the board.
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