Absentee ballots play an extremely important part in any election, but in the May 8 Winona Lake councilman race, they could be a deciding factor. Two wards have competition for the Republican councilman candidate position.
I am running in Ward 3 against two others, and that can spread the vote pretty thin, making absentee ballots especially vital. Certainly, I would appreciate the vote of you and all voters all through Winona Lake. If you are in a different ward, you can still vote for me and your own ward's councilman. I have been in Ward 3 for 10 years and am actively involved in attending many planning committee meetings and most Winona Lake Town Council meetings during the last four years.
The main point is that you should vote as if this were the November election instead of the primary. The winners in the primary are uncontested by Democrats, so this primary election will make a difference as to whether you have a voice on the council or not. I would be happy to help serve as your voice.
There is a need for reconciliation with the town as far as the feelings of many residents in my ward are concerned. I think I can be the catalyst for that which would be healthy for everyone in Winona Lake. My reasoning for this is many people in my ward, and in all of Winona Lake, believe I have consistently stood for equal rights for all individuals. I have definitely made efforts to keep the public informed and invested when something is changing in the community that will undoubtedly affect them. I wish that you will be able to put your hope in me and will become a willing participant in establishing unity. At the end of my four years of service, if I am elected, I hope to be part of finding a satisfactory solution to the sewer cost problem and to have helped the state see the need to increase funding again.
Some special desires I personally feel are worthy of doing are to be supportive of the Senior Center so it can be a source of consistent activity and enjoyment and to find ways for Winona Lake Park beach to, once again, provide lifeguards, new sand and daily raking. Of course, that would be nice for the Greenway but the safety and enjoyment of our own children should be enough of a reason.
So, if you find you are unable to go to the polls to vote on May 8, please call Voter Registration at 574-372-2231 and ask for an absentee ballot application to be mailed to you. When you receive that, you fill it out and return or mail it to Voter Registration. Then, they will send you an actual ballot, which you fill out and return, once again, to Voter Registration. In order for these two turnarounds to occur before noon on May 8, allowing your vote to be counted, you need to call Voter Registration today and start the process.
