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Reminiscent of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, it's either feast or famine for Warsaw and Winona Lake for political candidates in this year's elections.
With less than two weeks remaining in which candidates can file to run for municipal elections this year, Warsaw has an abundance of citizens seeking the two at-large city council seats, and Winona Lake has only two council candidates - and they're running for the same seat.
Deadline for filing is Feb. 19.
As of Tuesday, Democratic candidate Pam Cartwright and Republican candidates Joe Thallemer and Ricky Helton have tossed their hats into the ring with Trish Brown and incumbents Dewey Lawshe and Tammy Rockey for the Warsaw at-large council seats. The top two vote-getters win.
Cartwright, who is secretary for the Kosciusko County Democratic Party, is a customer service representative for Maple Leaf Farms.
"There are some things I'd like to help out with - namely the Economic Development Income Tax, and what it can do for the city," she said. "I think it is a viable option to fund a new sewage treatment plant, as long as it doesn't hurt people on fixed incomes."
Other issues Cartwright will focus on if elected would include activities for the city's youth, particularly teenagers, and the implementation of a curbside recycling program.
"I think we need to have more activities for the kids, especially for the teenagers to do other than just hang out at the park," Cartwright said. "Also, curbside recycling is another issue we are going to have to face in the next few years."
Thallemer, current president of the Warsaw Plan Commission, said he wants to put that experience to use on the city council.
"I've been involved in city government for the last five years," Thallemer said. "And to get more involved I feel I can do a good job in bringing some good judgment to help the mayor move the city forward."
He added he isn't concerned that so many candidates have filed for the at-large seats.
"That's what good about the process - to have a good race and find the best two candidates to serve," he said.
Thallemer said he believes the most pressing issue facing the city in the future will be the expansion of city services, especially to the proposed northern TIF district and the new sewer treatment facility.
"The northern TIF district is a big start to get the industrial growth in that area," he said. "Between the TIF and the EDIT proposal, I think we should be able to get that done and the city will benefit."
William Rhoades is a lifelong resident of Warsaw and is opposing Daniel Brumfield for the District 1 seat.
"I was born and raised here, so I thought I should help out on the city council as we work for the future," Rhoades said.
He said his top priority is seeing the city get a second sewage treatment facility.
"Whether you favor it or not, it's inevitable in order for the city to grow," Rhoades said. "In all good conscience, we need to have some people take a good close look at it to make sure it's done right.
"I just think Warsaw needs some people who care and want to help," he added. "I do."
The council's District 2 seat will also have a primary contest between Tony Silveus and Charles Smith. The seat is being vacated by Gene Brumfield.
Smith, a former high school football and track coach at Tippecanoe Valley, is currently employed at Lake City Bank and is involved in numerous community organizations, such as the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission, Kosciusko Development Inc., as past president and current board member of the Warsaw Community Development Corp. and past president of the Kosciusko Leadership Academy.
"I'm very interested in the community of Warsaw and believe my experience in business and as a coach will help me in that," Smith said. "One of the huge issues facing the city is the infrastructure of the city sewer. They are needed to support the need we have for more economic development.
"Warsaw is a great place to live. There's not a lot of things that need to be fixed," he added. "We just have to keep what we have and keep moving forward."
The telephone number listed on Ricky Helton's filing form was out of service, making him unavailable for comment.
In Winona Lake, Jerry Clevenger, a Stonehenge resident, has filed his candidacy for the District 1 seat on the Winona Lake Town Council. Incumbent Harold Dunn is also seeking re-election to that seat.
Town Clerk-Treasurer Rhetha Hicks and District 4 Councilwoman Edna Gamble have both filed for re-election, but they are both unopposed as of this date.
"I'm running for the town council to represent the people of Winona Lake," Clevenger said. "Winona Lake is going through an exciting time right now."
He said dealing with the growth of Winona Lake and the demand for additional town services, such as sanitary sewers, will be the main issue for the new town board.
"I think the sewer issue is a big concern. I want to be involved with discussions with Warsaw," he said. "Growth is a big issue."
As for challenging Dunn, Clevenger said, it was nothing against the current council member that was his reason to seek the seat but rather a desire to bring a new perspective to the council.
"I don't have anything against Harold Dunn. I'd just like to bring a fresh and different perspective to the council," he said. "I'm not sure I'm a 'politician' in the sense some people may be, but I'd like to be involved in what's going on in Winona Lake."
