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While Kosciusko County is generally considered a Republican stronghold, county Democrats aren't conceding a thing to the GOP in terms of the Warsaw City Council.
To that end, three Democrats have filed their candidacies for the council. Pam Cartwright and Ronald Dirck are seeking the two at-large seats on the council. Joel Curry is running for the First District seat.
Cartwright is employed by Maple Leaf Farms as a customer service representative and serves as secretary for the county Democratic Party. Providing a Democratic perspective to issues such as EDIT, a new sewer facility, expanding activities for adolescents and recycling are issues on the top of her agenda.
"There are things I'd like to help out with.There's EDIT and what it will do for the city," she said. "I support a new sewage treatment facility if we can find an appropriate way of financing it. I think EDIT is a viable option, as long as it doesn't hurt the people on fixed incomes.
"Other issues I'd like to see addressed are activities for the city's youth. I'd like to see more activities, especially for teen-agers to do, other than just hanging out at the park," she added. "Curbside recycling is another issue the city is going to have to face in the next few years."
Joel Curry, owner of Preferred Associates realty firm, sees expanding the economic growth opportunities in the city as of paramount importance.
"I have long wanted to contribute more to the leadership of the city. I think it's an opportune time, with EDIT and business expansion," he said.
"Decisions about our future, economically, is where my interests lie - attracting more jobs to the community," he said. "I also think that there are a lot of efficiencies that can take place."
Curry also thinks it is very important to have a bipartisan presence on the council to ensure all citizens are adequately represented.
"I strongly believe in a two-party system. I have good Republican friends, but I think we need to have a diversity on the council. I'm committed to representing those diverse constituencies," he said.
Curry currently serves on the Warsaw Community Library Board of Trustees. He is past director of marketing for Kosciusko Community Hospital and Grace College.
Ronald Dirck, owner of Mavron Inc., is also seeking an at-large seat on the council. He wants to use his experience in the business sector to benefit the issues facing the council.
"We need to have some business input and direction on the council - something we don't have right now," he said.
Dirck also said he'd like to see the city benefit from the proceeds of the sale of Kosciusko Community Hospital.
"We have all this money ($63 million) from the sale of the hospital, we should put it back into the community," he said.
Dirck is a former member of the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals and past president of the Kosciusko County Humane Society.
