Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Some new faces will be on two of the three local school boards after Tuesday's election.
If the results go uncontested, the new members of the Warsaw School Board will include Dan Robinson, District 3; Charles Sauders, District 4; and Deb Wiggins, District 6.
However, with Sauders winning District 4 by only 5 votes (767 to Sterling Watkins' 762 votes), and with a problem Tuesday at Warsaw Ward 2, Precinct 1 (not Ward 2, Precinct 2 as county clerk Sharon Christner originally reported yesterday), a recount or revote is not out of the question if Watkins petitions for either one.
Watkins could not be reached this morning for comment.
The problem Tuesday was that a voting booth did not include the District 4 candidates on the ballot. Though Christner yesterday said the booth was shut down as soon as the problem was found, up to 63 votes could be affected.
Tuesday night, Christner said that booth at that precinct was the only problem "that I was aware of for the school boards."
Whether there's a recount or revote, and if it's just for that precinct or the entire District 4 race, she said, depends on if and how Watkins petitions. If Watkins petitions for a recount, Christner said, he must do it by Nov. 9. She said she believed the same deadline held for a re-voting of the district seat.
If Watkins petitions, he would need to petition Christner as she is the secretary of the election board. The election board would then need to make a decision on whether or not to grant his petition and then notify the state before holding either the recount or revote.
Asked directly if she would grant Watkins' petition, Christner said, "I would consult with the election board and see if they'd go with it."
Mark Minatel did not run for re-election for the District 4 seat.
Two Warsaw School Board races were won without question. Wiggins won District 6 unopposed with 1,240 votes. She replaces Craig Allebach, whose term limits expired. Robinson beat incumbent Jim Folk with 1,471 votes to Folk's 809 votes.
Robinson said, "I'm pleased with the outcome. But as far as plans, I'm going to reserve judgment on that until I get the information. I'm not going to make any wild promises."
But then Robinson said he will make one promise after all: "We'll do something about the atmosphere at the board meetings. The meetings will be recorded again. For years they were recorded until the board didn't like their own words used against them."
Robinson also thanked "everyone that voted for me and supported me."
At Triton, two incumbents are out.
For the district at-large seat, Richard Trowbridge received a total of 763 votes in Kosciusko and Marshall counties to beat incumbent Kevin Boyer, who received 615 votes.
Kris Glingle received 795 votes to beat incumbent Steven Feldman, who received 585 votes, for the District 3 Triton school board seat.
Wawasee's incumbents will remain on the school board. Incumbent George Gilbert received 2,796 votes, beating challenger Melvin Gee, who had 1,325 votes, for the District 2 race.
Incumbent Dallas Winchester was unopposed and received 3,702 votes.
