Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
One of the few contested May primary races is for Winona Lake Ward 3, currently held by Republican Jim Lancaster. Lancaster did not file for re-election.
The two candidates who did file to fill the seat are Jim LeMasters and Jerry Nelson.
The two candidates were asked to respond to three questions, with responses limited to 250 words or less. Below are the questions and their answers (alphabetically by last name).
1. Why did you decide to run for Winona Lake Town Council Ward 3 and what are your qualifications?
LeMasters: I have been part of this community since 1959, spending my summers here until I graduated from high school. I later attended and graduated from Grace College and moved here permanently in 1978 when I became a teacher at Warsaw Community High School. I also spent several summers working with the Winona Lake Street Department and served as park director for Winona Lake Park through much of the 1990s. These experiences gave me a deep appreciation for - and understanding of - this community.
I'm running because I care deeply about Winona Lake and the people who live here. Decisions about infrastructure, development, public spaces and the responsible use of tax dollars should be made thoughtfully, transparently and with the long-term health of the town in mind. Winona Lake residents deserve leadership that listens first, works collaboratively, and focuses on practical solutions. Growth should be balanced, development should make sense and residents should always have a voice in the direction of their town.
I'm running because service matters. Instead of standing on the sidelines, I'm willing to step up, listen and do the work. My goal is simple: to represent the people of Winona Lake with honesty, common sense and respect-and to help make decisions we can all be proud of.
Nelson: Winona Lake Ward 3 Councilman position was being vacated by someone that I respected as contributing his talent and skills to the town over the many years he filled the position.
My qualifications are such I feel I can be a good addition to the council as his replacement since he decided not to run.
Educationally, my background includes a BS degree in engineering from Michigan Tech and I am a current registered professional engineer in Indiana. I also have an MBA from Indiana State focused on Accounting and Human Resources, plus an MHA in hospital administration from Northwestern University in Chicago. Last of all, I have a Juris Doctor in Law and am licensed to practice in the state of Illinois (retired). Main career consisted of CEO of two Chicago hospitals and construction management engineer for a multi-hospital organization.
2. With Pam Howard resigning as town manager effective May 22, what would like to see in the next town manager?
LeMasters: Winona Lake is unique for a town our size. In addition to being a lake community, we have the Village at Winona, Grace College and a close connection to Warsaw. That combination creates both opportunities and responsibilities.
The next town manager should have strong leadership skills to guide the daily operations of the town. Small town success depends heavily on relationship-based leadership, not just policy knowledge. They should be a good listener and communicator, able to work effectively with all departments and provide leadership where needed. Need to understand the way municipalities work which is much different than private business. Be approachable by the public and help convey the wishes of the council. They should also be visible in the community and willing to help plan and attend town functions.
In addition, the town manager should be proactive in identifying grant opportunities and helping secure funding that supports infrastructure, parks and long-term planning for the community. Basically, they are the chief operating officer of the town.
Nelson: Pam has identified to me multi infrastructure projects within the town needing to be addressed. I feel the new town manager should have some skills in town facilities planning, but also with my vast construction background, I feel I could step in to assist the new town manager and the current council members to assist in getting the best product for the lowest taxpayer dollar.
3. Last year, the State Board of Accounts released an audit report that included poor record keeping and misuse of town credit cards. How do you think the results of the audit were handled and what would you have done differently, if anything?
LeMasters: Having worked for both the school system and the town, I have been through multiple State Board of Accounts audits. It is generally a straightforward process. The report noted poor record keeping and misuse of town credit cards. There is really no excuse for either of those issues, and they should be addressed promptly with clear safeguards and policies to prevent future problems. At the same time, policies are only effective if they are enforced.
I believe the current council handled the situation as they felt was appropriate. However, I would have preferred to see the matter addressed more quickly, more transparently and in a more efficient manner - while recognizing that hindsight is always 20/20.
Nelson: The audit done by the SBA was requested by Laurie Renier, obviously because she felt there was some loose accounting controls. She was right, according to the audit, and the current council needed to deal with a two-year-old situation. I feel it might have helped the council in maintaining their integrity with the Winona Lake taxpayer if they had been more open with the results of the audit early on.
In the end, I think they handled the openness needed and continued to address points raised by the audit as they were identified.
