Two File for County Council Seat Vacated by Passing of Kinsey
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
Two candidates have filed to fill out the term of a county councilman who died earlier this month.
Kelly Prater, West Union Street, Claypool, and George E. Klinger, West Lake Street, Warsaw, both filed for the Kosciusko County district 4 seat left vacant after councilman John Kinsey lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.
Klinger previously served on the county council for eight years.
He is currently self-employed and has 350 acres of farmland in the county.
He is a real estate broker, licensed insurance agent and a founding member of the U.S. Certified Appraisers.
Klinger has also been a certified public accountant since 1959.
Married with two grown children, he also served on the Warsaw School Board.
Klinger said he is running because he feels the council needs someone who has experience.
Prater ran against Kinsey in the 2010 republican primary.
He is a Sergeant in the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department jail division.
He has been with KCSD for nine years.
Prater is also a volunteer with the Claypool PTO and a member of Warsaw Community Church.
Prater said having lived in Kosciusko County his whole life and now having two small children, he just wants to give back.
Prater also does a Scared Straight program through the jail.
A caucus will be May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Munson Building, 217 N. Lake St., Warsaw.
Interested eligible candidates for the council seat must file a Declaration of Candidacy with the Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Randall Girod no later than 72 hours before the caucus.
Forms are available at the Kosciusko County Clerk’s office.
