Kosciusko Silent No More held another candidate forum Tuesday night, with the sheriff's race being the focus.
Current Sheriff Rocky Goshert and Republican challenger Lt. Steve Knispel spoke and took questions from the crowd at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Goshert spoke first and gave a rundown of his education, family and experience.
Goshert is a 1975 Warsaw High School graduate and graduated from Hanover College before joining the Indiana State Police in 1980.
He joined the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department after 22 years at the ISP post in Fort Wayne.
In 2006, he ran for sheriff and won.
Goshert said his time as a resource officer at Wawasee High School was fullfilling.
"It's so important for kids to see us without a uniform and to see us as people," said Goshert.
Knispel focused on his experience in his opening remarks.
Knispel has been in law enforcement for 30 years.
He stated that he's had many duties with the sheriff's department in his time there, including working as the program director of the Kosciusko County Work Release.
The crowd was directed to only ask questions pertaining to each race and office.
For the sheriff's race, the biggest issue was drugs.
When asked about the current rate of arrests for methamphetamine, both candidates acknowledged that it is a big problem.
"It's a huge problem in the county," said Goshert. "The amount of arrests we are making are huge at this time."
Goshert said residents can help by letting police know when they see suspicious activity.
"Every call is checked," said Goshert.
Knispel echoed Goshert's sentiments and also said there are different types of meth with a cheaper kind being manufactured locally and a cleaner, more expensive kind coming in from Texas.
Both candidates agreed that better regulation of ingredients used to make meth was a way to cut down on its manufacture.
They both also agreed that the legalization of marijuana was a bad idea, citing that it can be a gateway to harder drugs.
Knispel was asked what positive changes he'd bring to the sheriff's department.
"Anytime you look at a program like ours, history often repeats itself," said Knispel.
Knispel said buy busts and looking at different ways to purchase fuel were a couple changes he'd make.
Goshert said since he's been sheriff they have increased buy busts and gotten money back on taxes paid for fuel in the past.
Goshert and Knispel both noted that other drugs including cocaine and heroin were also problems in the county.
When asked how they could make life tougher for inmates at the county jail, Goshert said the department was bound to obey the law.
Goshert said that by law they are required not only to provide inmates with meals and health care but even cable television.
During their closing statements both men made a case to be sheriff.
Goshert said that his goal was the goal of the community and that is to be safe. Goshert also said he maintains an open door policy and if anyone wants to come in, they don't need an appointment.
Goshert also said he hoped to save money for the taxpayers while providing the same or better level of service from his officers.
Knispel said the most important qualities to be sheriff were compassion and cooperation.
"When you get in a position of power you must be compassionate," said Knispel.
Goshert and Knispel will face off in the May 4 primary.After the sheriff's forum, Rebecca Kubacki, a candidate for the District 22 state representative seat running against Bill Ruppel, spoke to the audience at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
After introducing herself and recounting a childhood that included being born in a migrant camp in Florida, Kubacki spoke of her family.
Kubacki and her husband, Mike, the president and CEO of Lake City Bank, have two adopted children, Katherine and Matthew.
Kubacki, a Pierceton High School graduate, who met her husband, was married and baptized her children in Pierceton said she was lucky to have grown up in a small town.
Kubacki said she was never politically involved but "got to the point where I was fed up".
"I'm not afraid to speak up and stand up for what's right," said Kubacki.
During a question and answer session, Kubacki spoke about immigrants as well as her husband's role with the Federal Reserve in Chicago.
Kubacki, the daughter of immigrants, said she supported English being the official language of schools.
Kubacki said her platform consisted of two main issues, jobs and education.
"Fifty percent of the state's budget goes to education," Kubacki said. "But of that, only .63 cents of every dollar goes into the classroom."
Kubacki said she would work to cut out waste.
Kubacki said she is pro-life.
A man in attendance asked her about her husband's role on the Federal Reserve Board in Chicago and whether the Federal Reserve should be audited.
Despite the fact the question wasn't within the parameters Silent No More set for candidates, Kubacki agreed to answer it.
She said her husband was no longer involved with the Federal Reserve Board in Chicago and that when he was his role was that of an advisory one as opposed to being a decision maker.
In closing, Kubacki said she's not running to be a career politician. She reiterated that she would stand up for what's right and not just vote along party lines.
After Kubacki, Rep. Dave Wolkins (District 18) spoke.
Wolkins said he was pro-business, pro-life and family, pro-gun and for state's rights.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Captain and former sheriff Aaron Rovenstine asked how Wolkins felt about eliminating local government.
Wolkins said while he is for streamlining government, he is against eliminating township trustees.
Wolkins said the problem was in bigger cities and counties where those jobs have become lucrative.
Rovenstine also said he appreciated Wolkins' honesty on issues.
Wolkins was questioned why he's never been endorsed by the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne.
Wolkins said that because his stances are so different from the newspapers, he never expected to be endorsed by them.
Wolkins also noted his support for a tax on newspapers not using recycled paper as another factor.
Wolkins said he supported property tax caps because it would force larger cities like Fort Wayne to cut out waste.
Wolkins said he was initially for voter initiative referendums but is now against them.
Wolkins said the state is looking at more of a budget crunch in 2011 and it was important to cut spending.
When asked about Article 5 conventions, he said he wasn't read up on the issue but on the face would support one in Indiana.
