The town conventions for this year’s election are to be held by state law on or before Aug. 21, according to Kosciusko County Republican Party Chair Mike Ragan.
Saturday, he announced he named Georgia Tenney as the chairwoman of the Pierceton town convention and Randy Martz as chair for Claypool’s. Tenney served as chairwoman four years ago when Pierceton had another convention.
Democratic Party Chair Vicki Morton said Sunday that she was confirming details for the Sidney town convention, but the tentative date is at 1 p.m. Aug. 19.
If there is a contested race within a party for a town, the political party with the contested race has to hold a convention to make a selection from those candidates. Following the conventions, if there is a contested race between the parties, the town will have an election on Nov. 7. Some towns won’t have an election at all because there is only one candidate for each open seat.
Ragan said each of the convention chairs will appoint a secretary, and then the chair and secretary will select a date and time for the convention. The conventions must be announced to the press, as well as signs must be posted in three different prominent public places, like a town hall, fire station or community building. The signs must be posted no less than three days before the convention takes place, Ragan stated.
Austin Rovenstine, Kosciusko County Republican Party secretary, said a convention is similar to a caucus. Everybody within the town limits who is a member of the Republican party is invited to vote in the Republican town convention. They will have to sign an affidavit swearing they are a member of the Republican party. Eligible voters also must be registered voters of the town for no less than 29 days before the convention takes place.
During the convention, each candidate will be allowed to speak to the voters on why they should be elected before a secret ballot takes place. To win, a candidate must get a majority of the votes, just like a caucus, Rovenstine stated.
If there happens to be a tie, the town chairman also has the authority to cast a tie-breaking vote. The town chairman may alternatively call for another round of balloting.
If there happens to be a plurality, the person with the least amount of votes is removed from the candidates and a run-off is held between the remaining candidates. A candidate must receive 51% of the votes to win.
The conventions are open to the public.
For Claypool, the Republicans filing for the town council include Benny R. Stage Jr., North district; Eugene Warner, South; and Nate Morton, Center. The Libertarian who filed for town council is Paul Mullins, North, while the Democrats who filed were Elizabeth Heiman, Center, and Dave Morgan, South.
A Republican town convention is necessary in Claypool because two Republicans filed for town clerk. They are Nicole Miller and Miranda N. Stage. Whoever wins that race will face off against Libertarian Patricia Warner on Nov. 7.
There are four Democrats seeking a seat on the Sidney town council, which is why a Democratic town convention is required. Those hoping to fill one of the three positions on the board are Brandon Allen, Jackie Leroy Wolfe, Rebecca Adams and Gavin Parrett. Winners will face Republican Sharon Rancourt in the Nov. 7 town election.
Town clerk and Republican Lisa Parrett is unopposed.
There will be a Republican town convention for Pierceton, but no election in the fall because six Republicans are seeking seats on the three-member town council and two Republicans are seeking the clerk-treasurer position. No Libertarians or Democrats filed.
Seeking the council’s seats are Gordon Baker, Chauncey Smith, Glenn E. Hall, Steven Eric Trump, Greg Chism and Matthew Brubaker. Hoping to fill the clerk’s position are Myra Mast and Jerry F. Kreger.
Towns that will not have a town convention but will have a town election are Etna Green and Mentone.
Towns that will not have conventions or general elections include Silver Lake, Leesburg and North Webster.
No one in Burket filed for the election by the deadline, which means the current candidates will continue to hold their town council seats and clerk-treasurer position for another four-year term.
Winona Lake and Syracuse had May primaries but will not have elections this fall as there are no opposing candidates against the Republicans who won in May.
The city of Warsaw did not have a primary because there were no contested races and will not have a fall election because there were no challengers who filed to run against the Republicans in November.