By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — A 32-year-old elder law attorney, Will Stockdale, was selected by a GOP caucus to fill an at-large Kosciusko County seat Tuesday night.
Stockdale topped Kyle Tom in the final round of voting in a contest that started with a field of six.
Stockdale said he entered the caucus with a bit of confidence after talking with many precinct committee members, including some who had urged him to file for the seat.
He said they outlined what they expected.
“They wanted somebody who is hard working, diligent, somebody who puts the work in, doesn’t come to meetings unprepared, always comes to meetings, and I’m looking forward to working hard for the betterment of this county,” Stockdale said after the vote.
He used part of his three minutes to talk about priorities and also his assessment of looming budget constraints as a result of property tax reforms.
“It was all from the heart. I had notes prepared. I didn’t look at them once,” he said. “That three minutes (allowed under rules) is faster than you would ever believe.”
He introduced himself as a Christian, a US Army veteran, and a lifelong “Kosciusko County conservative.”
His top priorities, he said, would involve supporting the basic tenants of county government — public safety, infrastructure and other statutorily mandated functions. But he also said he would support county employees so they don’t have to work night shifts, second jobs, and moonlight “to make ends meet.”
On top of that, he also said he wants to leave some room for investing in the long-term financial security of the county.
Other candidates were Travis Trump, Rob Parker, Chris Bammerlin, and Thaddeus Du Bois.
The winner had to collect a majority of the votes from the 59 voting participants, and that was eventually achieved after the thinning of the field by removing the lowest vote-getter in each of the following four ballots.
Stockdale was the first to file and said that underscored his desire for the job.
He sounded eager to get to work, which begins Thursday when the county council convenes for its regular monthly meeting.
“Obviously, there is going to be a learning curve, but I’m looking forward to putting in the work necessary to be a great county councilman,” he said.
