One person filed by Friday’s deadline for the Republican caucus for the open seat on the Franklin Township Advisory Board.
Ashley Gearhart was the sole person to file with Kosciusko County Republican Party Chairman Mike Ragan, he reported at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. The deadline to file was 6 p.m. but Ragan didn’t expect anyone else was going to submit their candidacy form.
Gearhart filed in December for the Franklin Township trustee position after the resignation of Melanie Vanlaningham. In the Dec. 30 Republican caucus, Gearhart was up against Franklin Township Advisory Board member Ann Wiesehan, who was chosen as the next township trustee. Since Wiesehan can not sit on the advisory board and be the trustee, Wiesehan resigned immediately from the board. That created the open seat on the advisory board and another caucus had to be scheduled.
The caucus is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 30 in the Mentone Community Emergency Services building, 201 W. Main St. Ragan said even with just one candidate, they still must have the caucus and Gearhart must receive at least one of the two precinct committeewomen’s votes. The committeewomen are Wiesehan and County Treasurer Michelle Puckett.
Gearhart previously ran for Franklin Township trustee in the May 3, 2022, Republican primary against Vanlaningham.
In a December interview, Gearhart said she works from home selling life insurance. She lives near Beaver Dam Lake on CR 1000S.
She has not previously served in an elected position before, but she indicated her skills include she’s a very fast learner, very tech savvy, she knows her programs, is a good communicator, she’s persistent and consistent, good at getting her work done and is organized.