Jerry Frush said he is seeking the Warsaw City Council District 4 seat as an independent Republican to bring a fresh voice to the council.
Local architect Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan won the May primary for the seat. The seat is currently held by Jerry Patterson, who is not seeking re-election.
Frush, 72, said he has lived all his life in Warsaw, and was born in District 4.
Frush filed for the seat June 10.
He has lived on Lake Street for the past 35 years with his wife, Julia. They have a son, William Joseph Frush, Warsaw, and a daughter, Jill Snyder, Frankfort. They have six grandchildren.
His family has lived in Warsaw since the early 1840s.
Frush has been retired for the past 10 years from Sun Metal Products, Warsaw, as a tool and die maker.
He said he almost decided to run for the District 4 seat during the primary, but he hadn’t talked himself into it at the time.
“I started thinking more about it after the primary, and unless you are able to vote on something, you can talk all you want but it doesn’t do you any good,” Frush said.
Frush previously ran for Warsaw mayor in 1964 against Mike Hodges and Norma Gilworth. Hodges won the primary and election.
Frush said he received 94 votes for mayor, and Hodges received more than 1,000 votes.
Frush said issues important to him are preserving the lakes, extending the Greenway, and promoting and protecting downtown businesses.
Frush said if he is elected, he would like to represent the people in District 4 and be a voice in protecting the downtown.
“I haven’t been happy with the way the money has been spent in this city, and I think we need to protect the downtown area,” Frush said.
Frush said there are many empty downtown buildings in the city where businesses once were. He said he would like to see the buildings occupied.
Frush has been the president of the Kosciusko County Historical Society for the past 10 years. He also has been a member of the Chain of Lakes Barbershop Chorus for 40 years, and Chain Gang Barbershop Quartet for 17 years. Frush said he would hope to use his knowledge about the county he has gained by serving as president of the Historical Society to promote the city by serving on the city council.
He said he has some experience in assisting with budgets as supervisor at Sun Metal Products.
Frush said he intends to attend neighborhood meetings of the district he is running for to gain insight on the concerns of the district.
Frush said he feels he can add experience to the council.
“I have lived in my house on Lake Street for 35 years so I am familiar with my district, and I have watched the parks department work and I have seen street department employees work,” Frush said.
