Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Only 24 percent of the eligible voters bothered to cast their ballots Tuesday.
And that 24 percent made a loud statement that they wanted change - all challenged incumbents failed to win the voters' endorsement for November's general election.
In Warsaw, the at-large race resulted in Dr. Joe Thallemer and Trish Brown upsetting current at-large council members Tammy Rockey and Dewey Lawshe.
Thallemer garnered 995 votes and Brown received 555, just 9 votes ahead of Lawshe, who had 546. Rockey finished fourth with 511.
"I'm thrilled," said Brown today. "Now, we'll try and run a clean campaign and win in November. We'll be talking to Joe Thallemer about running as a team."
Thallemer said he appreciated the overwhelming support he received from the voters that led to the nearly 2-to-1 advantage he had over the next closest candidate, and that he is excited about the overall slate of Republican candidates for the general election.
"I am very pleased with the results, although I was very concerned yesterday with such a low turnout," he said. "I'm very excited about the Republican slate in November, though."
In response to Brown's proposal on running as a team, Thallemer said, "I would rather maintain my independence."
In Warsaw's District One race, Jeff Grose defeated Bruce Woodward by a 3-to-1 margin. Grose received 339 votes and Woodward 113.
The District Two race had Charles Smith defeating Tony Silveus by 25 votes, 138 to 113.
In the Fifth District, William Rhoades edged out Dan Brumfield by four votes, 129 to 125.
Two incumbents were unopposed in the primary. District Three councilman Paul Siebenmorgen received 258 votes, and Jerry Patterson, District Four councilman, received 190 votes.
Democrats Pam Cartwright and Ronald Dirck received 86 and 68 votes, respectively, and will go head-to-head with Thallemer and Brown for the at-large seats in November.
Joel Curry was unopposed in the Democratic primary for the District Two race and received 14 votes. Albert Smith, Fifth District Democratic candidate, received 15 votes.
Kosciusko County Democratic chairman Steve Haines said he will continue to seek candidates to fill out the Democrat ticket in the fall election.
"We're still working to have a full slate in November," he said Tuesday.
In Winona Lake, the town council will have a totally new look next January because the only two incumbents seeking re-election were defeated.
Current council member Harold Dunn was defeated by Jerry Clevenger, 207 to 430; and Fifth District incumbent Edna Gamble lost to Jeff Carroll, 242 to 413.
Clevenger said he was gratified by the support and wanted to begin working with Warsaw and the county in developing a regional sewer treatment facility.
"I'd like to try and work with Warsaw on going in on a sewage treatment facility," he said. "We've got a county with 101 lakes and a lot of swamp land. It only makes sense to protect that water table is to provides adequate sewage treatment."
Dunn said he was disappointed the voters turned to another candidate, but he wished Clevenger well.
"Yes, I'm very disappointed, but I wish him (Clevenger) the best of luck," he said.
Gamble said the voters of Winona Lake have made their decision and she accepts their judgment.
"The taxpayers have spoken, I really don't know what else to say. That's how democracy works," she said.
The other three town council seats were open. In District One, Craig Snow defeated Tom Easter, 452 to 180. In District Three, Roland Ortega defeated Eugene Seiman, 359 to 266. And in District Four, David Delp defeated Darold (Lamar) Bryan, 399 to 232.
Warsaw Election Results
Mayor
Ernest B. Wiggins 1,391
Clerk-Treasurer
Madeline Elaine Call 1,211
Council, At-Large
(Republican)
Joseph Thallemer 995
Letrecia (Trish) Brown 555
Dewey Lawshe 546
Tammy Rockey 511
Ricky Helton 135
(Democrat)
Pamela (Pam) Cartwright 86
Ronald Dirck 68
Council, District 1
(Republican)
Jeff Grose 339
Bruce Woodward 113
Council, District 2
(Republican)
Charles Smith 138
Anthony Silveus 113
(Democrat)
Joel Curry 14
Council, District 3
(Republican)
Paul Siebenmorgen 258
Council, District 4
(Republican)
Gerald Patterson 190
Council, District 5
(Republican)
William Rhoades 129
Danny (Dan) Brumfield 125
(Democrat)
Albert Smith 15
Winona Lake Election Results
Clerk-Treasurer
Retha Hicks 566
Town Council, District 1
(Republican)
Craig Snow 452
J.T. (Tom) Easter 180
Town Council, District 2
(Republican)
Jerry Clevenger 430
Harold Dunn 207
Town Council, District 3
(Republican)
Roland Ortega 359
Eugene Seiman 266
Town Council, District 4
(Republican)
David Delp 399
Darold (Lamar) Bryan 232
(Democrat)
Philip White 18
Town Council, District 5
(Republican)
Jeff Carroll 413
Edna Gamble 242
