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Banker Named To Fill Council

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Paul Siebenmorgen was selected Thursday as Warsaw's new city councilman.

Siebenmorgen will replace Ernie Wiggins, who will be sworn in today as mayor.

He said after the caucus that as councilman, he would like to "see the community continue to move forward" and "develop an environment that keeps good business in Warsaw."

He was chosen by the two District Three precinct committee people, Rosalee Spear and Jack Wilhite, from a field of four candidates.

Spear had originally filed as a candidate but withdrew her name before the caucus. Fred Heady, another official candidate, withdrew from the race during the caucus.

John Elliott was a candidate but was unable to attend the caucus because of his obligation to observe IHSAA officials during the Warsaw basketball game.

Candidates were given time before the vote for brief statements of their qualifications for council. Siebenmorgan was the last to speak and the only one who spoke without a prepared statement.

Jim Breading and Joe Conlon also spoke to the caucus as candidates.

Breading, a Warsaw native and part owner of Service Electric, said he was interested in the council position as a way of giving back to a community that had been good to him.

He said he wanted to keep taxes low and valued a clean environment, and supported steady controlled growth.

Joe Conlon, 1997 Warsaw Community High School teacher of the year and co-owner of Celebrations, said that if he was selected as councilman he would pledge to keep Warsaw's reputation as one of the best small towns in America.

Siebenmorgan, an executive vice president at Lake City Bank, cited his business background and finance knowledge, and said he wanted business in the area to continue to flourish.

The candidates' statements were followed by a vote by secret ballot of the precinct committee people.

Siebenmorgan will take the council seat at the next council meeting, on March 17. He will finish Wiggins' term, which will end Dec. 31, 1999.