Smith Wins Caucus For Pierceton Town Board Seat
June 20, 2024 at 7:33 p.m.
PIERCETON - All three candidates for the Pierceton Town Board told the caucus Thursday night how much they love their town, but it was Chauncey Smith who the precinct committeemen chose to fill the vacant board seat.
Smith was one of three Republicans who filed to run for the position after board member Eric Trump resigned in May. The other two men were Jerry Kreger and Gregory Chism.
Each candidate had three minutes to speak to the caucus, in the order that they filed with Republican Party Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan. Smith filed first so he spoke first.
In his comments, Smith, who admitted to being nervous, said he originally was from Warsaw. He married his wife, who was from Pierceton, 27 years ago and they decided to live in Pierceton. They raised three boys in Pierceton, and have seven grandchildren, with one on the way.
He joined the fire department after moving to Pierceton, where he spent 17 years before retiring.
“I love this town. There’s nothing better than this little town,” he said. “I want to make Pierceton grow. I want to be able to help get businesses going.”
He said he wants to listen to everybody and be able to work with the other board members to make things better.
“It takes a team. It’s not an ‘I.’ It should never be an ‘I,’ it should always be a ‘We.’ Hopefully, we can work together, get things going and make Pierceton better than what it is,” Smith said.
After being elected by the caucus to the Pierceton Town Board, he said it was great to be chosen.
“It’s Pierceton. I want to be able to help and be a part of this great town,” he said.
He was surprised by the big turnout of spectators for the caucus, but he was glad they were there.
“It’s a very good sign. People are concerned with Pierceton,” Smith said.
This is the first time he’s served in any type of elected office.
Voting precinct committeemen for the caucus were Frank Rhoades and Tom Pletcher and vice precinct committeeman Mike Miner, a proxy by precinct committeewoman Gloria Miner. Vote counters were Jack Wilhite and Patty Yarian.
PIERCETON - All three candidates for the Pierceton Town Board told the caucus Thursday night how much they love their town, but it was Chauncey Smith who the precinct committeemen chose to fill the vacant board seat.
Smith was one of three Republicans who filed to run for the position after board member Eric Trump resigned in May. The other two men were Jerry Kreger and Gregory Chism.
Each candidate had three minutes to speak to the caucus, in the order that they filed with Republican Party Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan. Smith filed first so he spoke first.
In his comments, Smith, who admitted to being nervous, said he originally was from Warsaw. He married his wife, who was from Pierceton, 27 years ago and they decided to live in Pierceton. They raised three boys in Pierceton, and have seven grandchildren, with one on the way.
He joined the fire department after moving to Pierceton, where he spent 17 years before retiring.
“I love this town. There’s nothing better than this little town,” he said. “I want to make Pierceton grow. I want to be able to help get businesses going.”
He said he wants to listen to everybody and be able to work with the other board members to make things better.
“It takes a team. It’s not an ‘I.’ It should never be an ‘I,’ it should always be a ‘We.’ Hopefully, we can work together, get things going and make Pierceton better than what it is,” Smith said.
After being elected by the caucus to the Pierceton Town Board, he said it was great to be chosen.
“It’s Pierceton. I want to be able to help and be a part of this great town,” he said.
He was surprised by the big turnout of spectators for the caucus, but he was glad they were there.
“It’s a very good sign. People are concerned with Pierceton,” Smith said.
This is the first time he’s served in any type of elected office.
Voting precinct committeemen for the caucus were Frank Rhoades and Tom Pletcher and vice precinct committeeman Mike Miner, a proxy by precinct committeewoman Gloria Miner. Vote counters were Jack Wilhite and Patty Yarian.