By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — The upcoming GOP caucus announced Monday to replace a Kosciusko County Councilman who had just been appointed a week earlier is providing some political intrigue.
Last week’s appointment of Warsaw attorney John Barrett ended several days later after he was advised by an Indiana Supreme Court committee that his work as a contract defender with the county’s public defenders’ office would create numerous conflicts of interest, a development that caught many off guard.
Barrett, a political unknown, filed shortly before the deadline and was chosen by a majority of the 56 precinct committee members from across the county in a surprising upset over Brad Jackson, a longtime former county commissioner who had recently retired and then announced several months ago that he wanted to get back into governing with a run for county council.
Jackson had planned to run for the District 1 county council seat currently held by Kimberley Cates, but then pivoted when Delynn Geiger unexpectedly resigned from his county council at-large seat, opting instead for the caucus process rather than waiting for this year’s general election results this fall.
The quick entry into that race was seen as an attempt to dissuade others from considering a run against Jackson, who had never lost an election spanning a quarter century.
For whatever reason, though, Jackson lost in the caucus, and Barrett’s resignation on Monday now creates speculation about how the future caucus will play out.
The following are a few questions that have arisen.
How many will file for the seat?
Some speculate that it could be a wide-open race that could result in some new faces.
Some think a large field of candidates is possible for several reasons. The at-large seat involves participation by precinct committee members from across the county rather than a district (where it would be a much smaller collection of decision-makers), and participating in a caucus is much easier and less expensive than running a full campaign.
The winner will be asked to fulfill the remaining three years left in the term started by Geiger.
Kosciusko County GOP Chair Mike Ragan recalled that prior to last week’s caucus, the most recent one needed to fill an at-large county council seat was in 2017, following the death of Bob Sanders, when it attracted seven candidates.
“We wouldn’t be surprised if it were something similar to that — maybe even a couple more,” Ragan said. “Who knows?”
Interest in the seat surfaced quickly Tuesday.
Will Stockdale, an attorney who lives in Warsw, announced early Tuesday, and Ragan informed the media Tuesday night that Kyle Tom also filed paperwork.
Stockdale said he didn’t think his entry would be seen as a move that would dissuade others.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and when John resigned, I said, I’ll jump right in,” Stockdale said. “It’s always nice to be first.”
He said he expects others to announce.
“I think in light of last week’s events and Mr. Barrett having to resign, I think that could sort of open the flood gates for a pretty busy race,” Stockdale said.
Hours later, Kyle Tom did just that.
He’s part of Tom Farms of Leesburg and is also the CEO of Agriflight Services in Wakarusa.
“With everything that’s going on, I thought this would be a good time to jump in,” Tom said on Wednesday.
“My family has been on the same land since 1837, so I’ve got deep roots in Kosciusko County, and I want to make sure our tax dollars are spent correctly,” Tom said.
Will Ragan, who tested the waters in the most recent caucus, consider filing?
At the Jan. 6 caucus, Ragan attempted to clear the air about his interest in running for Geiger’s seat and denied suggestions that he would seek to influence precinct committee members into supporting him.
Ragan told News Now Warsaw on Tuesday that he won’t file for the opening even though he did give it a “fleeting” thought.
At the same time, he also added that he’s not one to close the door entirely on other future opportunities.
Will Jackson file to run for the at-large seat or revert and run for District 1?
Jackson was asked last week about whether he would file for the District 1 Seat after he lost to Barrett and told reporters he would need more time to think it over.
News Now Warsaw talked with Jackson on Wednesday morning, and he said he still is not ready to make an announcement.
