Two people so far have announced they will seek the position of Kosciusko County Republican Party chairman at the upcoming caucus. Mike Ragan and Tressa Nichols on Sunday both emailed announcements that they will run to replace Randy Girod, who resigned as GOP county chair effective July 7. The caucus of precinct committeemen and vice committeemen will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 in the old courtroom of the county courthouse. In his announcement, Ragan, a Warsaw resident, said he filed paperwork for the office of chairman Friday. Ragan said he has had an interest in being county chairman for many years. However, it was at the urging of Girod, his wife DeAnna, followed by several Kosciusko County precinct committee men and women that finalized his decision to file. He said his proprietor and managerial business experience, knowledge of the political process and desire for public service “are qualifications that are necessary for this important position.” Being retired gives him the time to meet the requirements to lead the county party, he said. For several years Ragan has been a regular attendee of Warsaw Zoning, Planning and City Council meetings, Kosciusko County Commission and County Council meetings. Ragan is an elected Republican precinct committeeman from Kosciusko County Wayne 5, and has attended, or worked, most Kosciusko County Republican events for several years, his email indicated. Ragan is on the Indiana 3rd Congressional District Finance Events Committee and is the Kosciusko County chairman of the Todd Young for United States Senate campaign. Born in Warsaw, he is a sixth-generation Kosciusko County resident. A Warsaw Community High School graduate, he married DeAnna K. Rule in 1968, and was the father of the late Troy L. Ragan. Nichols, in her announcement to run for chairman, said she has been involved in county politics for nine years, most recently running for county council. She is a member of Warsaw Optimist Club and the Kosciusko Republican Women’s Club. She has been involved in state and national politics including campaigns for Rep. Curt Nisly, Rep. Christopher Judy, Fort Wayne Councilman Jason Arp and candidate for Congress Pam Galloway. In an email, she said: “I am ready for this opportunity to serve my community. I look forward to the challenge of bringing youth and enthusiasm to the Republican Party in Kosciusko County. We have a strong national and state platform that we can all rally around and I am excited to see our party unified toward common goals. We have an untapped energy in millennials that I will work to draw in. Together, we can create something amazing.” Any Republicans interested in seeking the position of county chairman should send a letter to both Kosciusko County Republican Party Secretary Christy Polk and Indiana State Republican Party Secretary Barbara McClellan no later than 72 hours before the caucus, according to interim Chairwoman Marsha McSherry last week. The position is open to any registered Republican in good standing in Kosciusko. Candidates will have 3 minutes each during the caucus to speak. Girod resigned July 7 to focus his time to assist his ailing 89-year-old mother. Girod was first elected by precinct committeemen to serve as chairman in March 2009.
