Stutzman To Be On District 13 State Senate Ballot In November
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Former Kosciusko County Auditor and Assessor Sue Ann Mitchell was defeated in Saturday's caucus for the State Senate District 13 seat to replace current Senator Robert Meeks.
Republican Marlin Stutzman was chosen to replace Meeks on the November ballot to represent District 13. Stutzman faces Democrat Fred Demske in the November election.A caucus was held Saturday morning at Four County Area Vocation Cooperative, Kendallville, to replace Meeks.
Sixty Republican precinct committee members selected Stutzman, a state representative from Howe, during Saturday's caucus.
Stutzman was chosen during the third ballot by a vote of 37-23 over state Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla.
Former state representative Brad Fox was eliminated during the second ballot, leaving Stutzman and Bell for the final vote.
Mitchell remains on the November ballot for Kosciusko County treasurer.
Meeks has served as District 13 senator since 1988, representing LaGrange, Noble and parts of DeKalb, Kosciusko and Steuben counties. He was going to seek a sixth term, but recent health problems caused him to withdraw. He will serve out the remainder of his term.
During the first ballot in Saturday's caucus for the District 13 seat, Mitchell was eliminated from the race.
Mitchell said, during a phone interview this morning, she was honored to have participated in the caucus.
"I met wonderful people during the caucus and had the opportunity to see people I had not seen in awhile, and I feel it was a positive experience," Mitchell said.
"My goal in running for District 13 was to raise an awareness in the legislature that people who have experience in local government can provide great expertise in helping making decisions," she said.
