Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County voters chose Republican William "Rocky" Goshert for county sheriff in a decisive win over Democrat Jim Bumbaugh during mid-term elections Tuesday.
Goshert received 69.81 percent of the tally (12,990 votes) compared to Bumbaugh's share of 30.19 percent (5,618 votes).
Tuesday night, Goshert said he was happy with the decisive victory as well as humbled by the opportunity to serve as sheriff for the next four years.
Goshert, 50, said he'll begin learning the administrative and operations side of the office in a couple of weeks.
"We'll be up and running Jan. 1," he said.
Democrat party candidates were few and far between for most elected positions.
The majority of Republican-held county offices offices were unopposed Tuesday. They are: Rex L. Reed (R) Judge 545h Circuit Court who received 15,691 votes; Prosecuting Attorney 54th District R. Steven Hearn, who received 15,526 votes; Marsha A. McSherry, the new county auditor, who received 15,046 votes; Deb Wulliman, the new county recorder, who received 15,136 votes; incumbent Laurie A. Renier, county assessor, who received 15,300 votes; Robert M. Conley, the new Southern District county commissioner, received 15,210 votes; incumbent Charlene A. Knispel, representing the County Council's District 1, who received 3,770 votes; incumbent Harold D. Jones, of County Council District 2, received 4,057 votes; incumbent Bradley J. Tandy, County Council District 3, received 3,380 votes; and incumbent John A. Kinsey, County Council District 4, who received 4,142 votes.
Incumbent Dorothy Biesemeyer (R) was unopposed for the Tippecanoe Township assessor's post. She received 1,596 votes.
Republican Susan Stookey was unopposed as the Plain Township assessor. This will be her first term. She received 1,415 votes.
Incumbent assessors Patty Gammiere (R) of Turkey Creek Township received 1,834 votes, and Kristy Mayer (R) of Wayne Township received 5,513 votes. They also were unopposed on the ballot.
Trillia Gearhart returns as Franklin Township trustee. The Democrat received 174 votes. Her opponent, Beth Ann McBier, received 139 votes. Gearhart's incumbent board is Republicans Theresa Alber (263 votes), Paul Haist (245 votes) and William Leininger (250 votes).
The following individuals who ran for township trustees were unopposed. Township advisory boards are made up of three members. An asterisk (*) indicates new officeholders.
For Clay - Linda Egolf*, (R), received 341 votes. Her returning board will be Republicans Jerry W. Johnson, who received 321 votes, Donald L. Morris (315 votes) and Dan Ransbottom (340 votes).
For Etna - Gary Sponseller (R), who received 287 votes. His board is Joe Mooney (R) (234 votes), Anthony Tribalski Jr.* (R) (249 votes) and Pat Morr* (D) (192 votes).
For Harrison - Republican James Moyer received 725 votes. Moyer's advisory board includes Republicans Joseph Good (654 votes), Steven Sponseller* (671 votes) and Gerald Weirick (645 votes).
For Jackson - Gwendolyn Ostrom* (R) received 234 votes. Her board is Republicans Marcia Dierks* (241 votes), Ray Fisher (226 votes) and David Metzger* (228 votes).
For Jefferson - Beth Krull* (R) received 254 votes. Her advisory board is Republicans Dee Ann Beer (225 votes), John Beer (236 votes) and Robert Riley (228 votes).
For Lake - Molly Bradford (R) received 319 votes. Bradford's board includes Kathleen Lokotar* (R) (241 votes), Wayne Spratt* (R) (258 votes) and Paul Sibray (D) (253 votes). Mark Harman (R) received 234 votes.
For Monroe - Sandra Fiedeke (R) received 216 votes. The advisory board is Republicans Don Ellison (204 votes), Sonya Hathaway (207 votes) and Thomas Parker (194 votes).
For Plain - Republican Jerry Kammerer received 1,413 votes. Kammerer's board includes Republicans Robert Bishop (1,350 votes), Craig Charlton (1,290 votes) and Dan Gast (1,304 votes).
For Prairie - Julia Goon (R) received 410 votes. Her board includes Republicans Gordon Drake (368 votes), Marjorie Himes (370 votes) and Jeff Shaw (323 votes). Democrat Raymond Truex received 240 votes.
For Scott - Democrat Fred Slabaugh received 140 votes. His board is Democrats Tom Besson (93 votes), Paul Parks* (114 votes) and Merlin Yoder (99 votes).
For Seward - Aime Hoffman (D) received 378 votes. Her board includes Republicans Kevin Hohman (419 votes), Roland McFadden (412 votes) and Jason McSherry (392 votes).
For Tippecanoe - Thomas Reiff* (R) received 1,611 votes. Republicans Richard Mitchell* (1,487 votes), James Rhodes (1,546 votes) and Steve Ward* (1,494 votes) will serve on his board.
For Turkey Creek - Barbara Griffith (R) received 1,833 votes. Her board includes Republicans Arlen Bobeck (1,748 votes), Carl Myrick (1,651 votes) and Richard Waterson (1,734 votes).
For Van Buren - Elizabeth Winchester* (R) received 871 votes. Her board includes Republicans Stanley Wuthrich (804 votes) and Harry Doty (755 votes) and Democrat William Troup (667 votes).
For Washington - Republican Dean Rhoades received 543 votes. His board includes Republicans John B. Camden II (517 votes), James Craig (485 votes) and Roger Thomas* (508 votes).
For Wayne - Sheila Burner* (R) received 5,515 votes. Her board is Republicans Kyle Babcock* (4,667 votes), Nanette Newland* (4,830 votes) and Michael Reed (5,064 votes). Democrat Joshua McNeal received 2,257 votes.
Two incumbent Syracuse Town Council members were were unopposed. District 1 member is Larry Siegel (R) who received 437 votes. District 2's Paul Stoelting (R) received 502 votes.
