Two women - Barbara A. Wagoner and Candice Smith - have filed for the Etna Green clerk-treasurer position as of Saturday.
Wagoner, 59, was the first of the two to put her name in the hat. She has lived in Etna Green for eight years now.
She said she filed for the position because, “It sounds interesting to work there and I want to help make the town a bit better and have everyone get along.”
As for her background, Wagoner said she worked in the prosecutor’s office in Marshall County “a long time ago,” worked 10-1/2 years in accounting and administrative work at Gulf Stream, 10 years at Lake City Bank in consumer affairs and now works for employU from home.
EmployU is a company out of Florida and they help people with disabilities get jobs, she stated.
“I love my job and plan to keep it” if she’s appointed as the clerk-treasurer, Wagoner said.
She is currently married and does not have any children.
Smith, 39, has lived in Etna Green for 10 years and is married to the fire chief, Kevin Smith II. They have three children and one grandchild.
Asked why she wanted to serve in the clerk-treasurer position, Smith said, “I worked as the utility clerk for a while to support Ilene. I enjoyed that position.”
She said serving as clerk-treasurer would be a way for her to be helpful to the community. As long as she’s worked, she’s always held office positions. She’s been in customer service and community service jobs for over 17 years, including at Cardinal Services.
Smith also was encouraged to file for clerk-treasurer by a few of her neighbors and her husband.
“I think my goal, if appointed as clerk-treasurer, is to work with the community and the town council to make Etna Green a lasting town for people to start and raise their families here and expand that to others,” she said.
Current Etna Green Clerk-Treasurer Patricia Cook recently resigned from her position, effective May 31, citing work conditions.
Since fewer than two people would be eligible to participate in a precinct committeemen caucus to fill the vacancy, Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan will appoint a qualified individual to fill the remaining unexpired term.
The Etna Green clerk-treasurer vacancy will be filled at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 22 at the Kosciusko County clerk’s office.
The last day to file with Ragan is May 19 by 3 p.m.
Eligible applicants must be residents of the town of Etna Green and Republicans in good standing.
Declarations of candidacy and statements of economic interests are available at the Kosciusko County Clerk of the Circuit Court office, 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw.
Ragan’s phone number is 574-265-1430.