Sue Ann Mitchell declared her candidacy for a third term on the Kosciusko County Council as an at-large member on Friday.
Mitchell has been successful in the 10 previous times she sought public office, according to a provided news release.
She was born and raised in Anderson, graduating from Anderson High School in 1964. She attended business college in Indianapolis. Mitchell was employed by General Motors prior to moving to Kosciusko County in 1970. She fell in love with the area at the age of 8 when she and her family owned a summer place at Pinkerton’s Landing on Dewart Lake.
She served the North Webster/Tippecanoe Township community as a volunteer EMT for 15 years, receiving the North Webster EMT of the year award in 1983 and 1984. She received the county EMT of the year award presented by the Warsaw VFW in 1984. She was selected as the 1990 and 2018 North Webster Chamber of Commerce “Person of the Year.” She has served on the North Webster Community Center Board of Directors since 2016 and is currently their treasurer. She is a life member of North Webster Ladies Auxiliary Unit 253. She previously served as secretary and currently serves on the auxiliary board as an advisor. She has been a member of the North Webster Lady Lions/Lions Club, chairing Mermaid Festival Queen of Lakes Pageants and Cutie Pageants in past years.

    Kosciusko County Council at-large member Sue Ann Mitchell (L) files for re-election Friday with Clerk’s Office Chief Deputy Melissa Boggs (R). Photo Provided.
  

Serving in county government starting in 1976, Mitchell has held the positions of Tippecanoe Township clerk/deputy assessor, Tippecanoe Township assessor, Kosciusko County assessor, auditor, treasurer and is finishing her second term as a County Council member at-large. Mitchell stated that every position she has held she has been a “hands on/working” office holder and still has a desire to serve the public.
While a township assessor, she served as the president of the Indiana Township Assessor’s Association for three years. While a county assessor, she served on the Indiana County Assessor’s Association Board of Directors. She served as the northeast district vice president for the Indiana Auditor’s Association and served as co-chair of the Auditor’s Association Legislative Committee. She served as co-chair of the Indiana County Treasurer’s Association Legislative Committee as well. She served as the treasurer, vice president and president of the Indiana County Councils Association and currently serves on their Legislative Committee.
She has served on the Association of Indiana Counties board as the northeast district president and vice president. She has served on the executive committee of the Association of Indiana Counties as treasurer, secretary, third and second vice president. She currently serves as the first vice president for the Association of Indiana Counties.
She received the Indiana County Commissioners “Auditor of the Year” award in 2005. She was awarded the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce “Government Excellence” award in 2002, 2015 and 2022. She received the Association of Indiana Counties “Auditor of the Year” award in 2007, “Treasurer of the Year Award” in 2016 and the “Council Member of the Year Award” in 2017 and again in 2022.
She stated, “One of my proudest moments was receiving the Association of Indiana Counties Himsel Award, which is the highest award presented by the association with the recipient being selected from all elected officials throughout the state in 2015.”
She achieved her Life-Time Achievement Education Award for attending over 240 hours of educational programs provided by the Association of Indiana Counties.
Mitchell stated, “Having the knowledge of the operations of the county assessor’s office, auditor’s office and treasurer’s office has been a great benefit as a county council member. Making good decisions has always been a priority in every position I have held with the county, which requires knowledge of the processes and knowing how to do the research on the various issues that come before the County Council. Understanding the laws and rules that governs the County Council are critical.”
Mitchell served as president of the Council in several prior years and has tried to share her knowledge with others. She previously served on the wage committee, strategic planning committee, housing study committee and tower committee. She currently serves on the Revitalization Committee, Abatement Committee, Airport Committee, Wheel Tax Committee, ARPA Committee, Opioid Committee, JDAI representative and the newly formed Health Advisory Committee and newly formed Kosciusko County Community Recovery Program Advisory Committee. She previously served on the Lakeland Regional Sewer District Board.
She has served as a precinct committee person and delegate to the Republican Convention for over 20 years. She has held the positions of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the Kosciusko County Republican Women’s Club. She was inducted into the Republican Hall of Fame in 1996 and again in 2019.
Mitchell noted that her inspiration to serve the public came from her husband, Richard D Mitchell, who passed away in 2012. She credits him with inspiring her and her children and grandchildren to engage in public service as EMS, fire and police personnel.
She has four children: Alyssa Schmucker, North Webster; Jason Ray, Elkhart; Sarah Knisley, Warsaw; and Bruce Mitchell, Larwill. She has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She stated she has always enjoyed being a productive contributing public servant and hopes to be allowed to continue.