Wilson Hopes To Be The County’s Next CoronerTracy Wilson started in the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office 17 years ago.
Now, she’s seeking to fill the position of county coroner in the Dec. 1 Republican caucus as Tony Ciriello resigned from the elected position effective Dec. 31 after voters chose him to serve on the County Council.
In an interview Friday afternoon, Wilson said, “I actually started in the (coroner’s) office in 2005, but I became state-certified in 2013, so I’ve been doing it, and it’s a job that I just enjoy, if that’s the right word.”
When she worked in the office early on, Tracy always went with her husband Michael on calls when he was a deputy coroner or the coroner. She did a lot of his note-taking, photos, paperwork and anything else she could do to help.
“I’ve been a paramedic (since 2003), so a lot of times I can go on a scene and look at maybe medications and know if they’ve had a history of something just by some medications they’re on,” she said.
Tracy became a deputy coroner after getting state-certified in 2013 and has been one since. She thinks running for county coroner was a natural progression.
“I think so, to keep the integrity of our office going. Those who are in the office now kind of all have the same mindset of where we want the office to be and how things are done and we just want that integrity to continue,” she said.
Tracy has been in the emergency medical field since 1998. She’s done “numerous” death and crime scenes and has attended autopsies in Fort Wayne at the Forensic Center. She said Dr. Scott Wagner, who is the head forensic pathologist, is endorsing her and sending a letter out backing her for the coroner’s position.
As for the personal qualities a coroner should have, Tracy said a coroner should have compassion for the family members of the deceased.
“Everybody has had somebody in their life die, and the compassion that you have on the scene with family members or making the death notifications is probably the hardest job,” she said. “It’s a necessary evil, but it’s one that I think if I had somebody coming to my door I would want someone like me making that notification. I’ve sat with them. I’ve held their hands. I’ve tried to answer why.”
A number of years ago, she recalled, a young daughter was killed in an accident and Tracy took her blankets and spent all weekend washing them to get stuff off of them. She then returned the blankets to the grandmother.
“It’s just an extra that I think if that was my grandbaby, I would want somebody to care enough to think to do that,” Tracy said. “We go to funerals. We go to visitations of these deceased. We care about our families. This is our community.”
Tracy was born and raised here, graduating from Warsaw Community High School in 1985.
“These are our neighbors, our family, our school friends,” she said.
Tracy said the coroner is a necessary job that nobody really likes to do.
“I hope that if I am elected by the caucus, I want to bring more to the table. Outreach programs. I don’t want the coroner’s office to be an after-thought. I want us to be in the forefront, trying to combat these drug issues and teenage driving issues, although fortunately we’re pretty good there, but all it takes is a bad snowstorm to do that,” she said.
“I want to be part of the solution. I want people to see me out there, being pro-active rather than knocking on their door at 2 a.m. That’s not where I want to meet somebody for the first time,” Tracy stated.
The Republican caucus for treasurer starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 in the old courtroom of the county courthouse, followed by the caucus for coroner.
The Kosciusko County treasurer and coroner will be elected by secret ballot of the majority of the members of the voting caucus to fill the vacancies in the offices. Candidates must reside in Kosciusko County and be a Republican in good standing.
Declarations of candidacy are available at the office of the Kosciusko County clerk of the Circuit Court, 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw, and must be filed with Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan no later than 72 hours prior to the commencement of the caucus.
Ragan’s phone number is 574-265-1430 and email is mragan@sprintmail.com.
Eligible candidates will be allowed a maximum of 3 minutes to address the voting caucus.
