Several File For City Offices

On the first day for political hopefuls to officially file their candidacies for municipal offices, perhaps the biggest news was who wasn't on the list of initial filers.

Those filing from the city of Warsaw include: incumbent mayor Ernest Wiggins; incumbent clerk-treasurer Elaine Call; incumbent councilmen Dewey Lawshe and Tammy Rockey; political newcomers Latrisha Brown for council-at-large and Bruce Woodward for the council's District 1 seat, being vacated by Mac Silveus; and incumbent Paul Siebenmorgen for District 3.

Jerry Patterson, Fourth District Councilman said he will file his candidacy for re-election. on Friday.

Brown, current director of the Warsaw Community Development Corp., said she believes her experience in business recruitment and development, as well as the promotion of the Warsaw business district, would be an asset to the council.

"There will be several economic development issues coming before the council in the next few years, and I want to have a hand in those," she said.

Woodward, a lifelong resident of Warsaw and currently in the real estate business, want to help the city make the transition to the 21st century.

"My main goal is to help lead Warsaw into the next century and be a place where my children and grandchildren can live and work," Woodward said.

He added the key issues he sees for the city in the near future will be industrial development and a new sewage treatment facility.

This morning, Tony Silveus filed his candidacy for the District 2 council seat being vacated by Gene Brumfield. Brumfield's son, Dan, filed for the District 5 seat being vacated by Porter Polston.

Silveus is seeking his first elected office, and following the the footsteps of his father, Mac, who was a three-term councilman. Brumfield, likewise, is carrying on a family tradition of city service. In addition to his father, Brumfield's great-uncle, Mike Hodges, was a longtime mayor of the city.

In Winona Lake, incumbents clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks and District 1 town councilman Harold Dunn have both filed for re-election. Current town council president Brent Wilcoxson said he will not seek another term.

According to Ann Francis of the Kosciusko County Clerk's office, as of today, all candidates filing have been Republicans. No Democrats have filed.

Steve Haines, chairman of the Kosciusko County Democratic Party, said he will meet with three party members who have expressed an interest in running for the Warsaw city council, but none have made any firm commitments.

"We're talking to some people, but it's going to be tough," Haines said. "After Jeff (Bronsing) got beat, raising money has been a problem."

Bronsing was a candidate in last fall's election for county sheriff, and was defeated by Aaron Rovenstine.

The deadline for filing for the May 4 elections is Feb. 9.