WARSAW — Rarely does Kosciusko County politics provide upsets and surprises, but that was the case Tuesday night when Republicans chose John Barrett over Brad Jackson to fill a vacancy on county council.

Fifty-six precinct committee members cast secret ballots, and a majority chose Barrett, a political newcomer who waited until just a few days before the deadline to seek the seat.

He and Jackson both said they found the outcome a bit surprising, and Barrett said he thinks the county is "ready for a new voice."

In a brief acceptance speech afterward, Barrett thanked everyone for their support.

You know, one of the great things about these caucuses is you get to decide, and tonight a decision was made, and I'm ready to hit the ground running," Barrett said.

He was also quick to recognize Jackson’s 28-year legacy as a former county commissioner.

“We all know Mr. Jackson. He’s a gentleman, plain and simple. He’s done an awful lot of work for this county over the years, and I think we should all give him quite a hand,” Barrett said as the crowd responded with strong applause.

Jackson, who originally planned to run for District One in the upcoming election, changed gears after the unexpected resignation of at-large councilwoman Delynn Geiger and quickly chose to participate in the caucus.

Reporters asked Jackson afterward if he would revert back to his original plan and run for the seat currently held by Kimberly Cates.

“I’m going to think for a little bit,” Jackson said.

Cates has yet to announce whether she will seek re-election.

Election filing begins Wednesday.

Barrett will fill out the remaining three years in Geiger's term.

Council's first meeting of the year is on Thursday night.

[caption id="attachment_125092" align="aligncenter" width="740"] Kosciusko County Republican Chair Mike Ragan, left, addresses GOP precinct committee members Tuesday night before the caucus vote. Further to the right are the two candidates, Brad Jackson and John Barrett. Ragan later announced Barrett was the winner. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW — Details of a Republican caucus needed to fill a vacancy on Kociusko County Council have been announced.

County GOP Chair Mike Ragan issued the notice Friday night that a county-wide caucus involving Republican precinct committee members would be held Jan. 6.

The caucus became necessary after Thursday’s resignation by County Councilman DeLynn Geiger, which was effective Friday.

Those invited to participate include Republican precinct committee members across the county who are in “good standing” and have served continuously for thirty days from the date of the caucus.

The caucus decision will be made in a secret ballot of the majority of the voting caucus members. 

Declarations of candidacy will be available at the county clerk’s office beginning Monday and must be filed with Ragan no later than seventy-two (72) hours before the caucus.

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WARSAW — Former Kosciusko County Commissioner Brad Jackson — eager to get back into political governance — has found a quicker way to join county council.

Jackson, who served 28 years as a commissioner before deciding to retire in 2024, had announced in September his plans to run for county council's 1st District seat next year, which would mean he'd be seated more than a year from now (if elected). 

But then he received a call Thursday night from a county council member who alerted him that they had just learned another council member, Delynn Geiger, had unexpectedly announced his resignation, effective one day later.

Jackson, 63, thought about the unexpected development, talked with a few people, including the county Republican Party Chairman Mike Ragan, and within hours, announced plans to seek Geiger’s at-large seat through a Republican caucus that has not even yet been announced.

Ragan announced Friday night that the caucus will be held Jan. 6.

The move, if successful, would mean Jacksson could be seated in early January — a year sooner than previously planned.

He said the change "makes perfect sense" and points out the council could face some tough budget decisions that could loom next year as changes in state law likely affect the amount of property tax revenue that can be collected.

"There's a lot of changes with Senate Bill 1 and things like that, and I'd just like to be part of that," Jackson said Friday afternoon.

Jackson was asked if quickly announcing might deter others from considering a run in the caucus process, which will be decided by precinct committee members from across the county.

"I don't know if it would or not, but I think it's good to get your name out as quickly as you decide," Jackson said. "To me, it seems like a pretty easy decision. I already decided to run, so do I want to run and be in a year sooner or not?"

Geiger was elected a year ago and said in a letter to Ragan that the decision was based on his family's increasing activities outside of the county.

Three years remain in Geiger's term, which could be an enticing reason for others to consider running.

Jackson said he was unsure if the immediate opening on the council would attract much interest.

"I hope not, but I don't know," he said.

The caucus process would also be less expensive than running a campaign and would be decided by Republican party faithful, many of whom he has built relationships with over more than two decades.

Jackson's original election bid involved a potential match-up against Kimberly Cates, a fellow Republican who has not announced whether she plans to seek re-election.

Jackson said he reached out to Cates after Thursday's decision and that they had a "pleasant conversation."

The post Jackson changes gears, will run for county council seat vacated by Geiger appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — DeLynn Geiger, who was elected to the Kosciusko County Council in November 2024 as an at-large member, resigned after Thursday’s council meeting, effective Friday.

Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan announced Geiger’s resignation, saying Geiger handed him and County Clerk Melissa Boggs his resignation letter.

Details on a caucus to replace Geiger are being planned, potentially in early January, and will be announced as they become available. Three years remain on Geiger’s term.

According to the letter to Ragan from Geiger, Geiger wrote, “Although we have properties in both counties, my wife Lori’s employment and my son Graham’s growing involvement in the classic car community in Auburn lead us to spend more time at our farm in DeKalb County. Our family’s participation in car shows, ACD Automobile Museum events and other out-of-state tours has become a significant part of our lives, and I want to be present for these important family moments. This decision comes after careful consideration and is simply influenced by the increased challenge to dedicate the necessary time and attention required in Kosciusko County to serve in this capacity.”

His letter states he is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the council and appreciates the support he received from family and the community.

“I will do everything I can to ensure a smooth transition and am happy to assist in any way during this period,” Geiger’s letter concludes.

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WARSAW — Kosciusko County Republicans saw a large turnout for the annual spring fish fry Wednesday at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds ahead of the May 7 primary.

Republicans have contested primaries on the local ballot in four races — circuit court judge, coroner,  Surveyor, and county commissioner for the northern district.

Two candidates for county council at large seats — Rachael Rhoades and DeLynn Geiger — are now poised for a primary victory after last-minute filing decisions eliminated any contests for the county council at large seats in the primary.

No other political party has or announced candidates for any of the county races even though there’s still time.

GOP Chair Mike Ragan said Republicans are in a good position so far.

"I feel really good about it. I think regardless of who we elect in our county, we have good candidates. We're going to be well-served no matter who wins," Ragan said.

He concedes Democrats and Libertarians could still slate candidates.

Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and State Comptroller (formerly known as state auditor) Elise Nieshalla also attended the fish fry.

The annual GOP Lincoln Day Dinner is May 2 at The Owl’s Nest in North Webster. Speakers will include Congressman Rudy Yakym and Indiana Republican State Committee Chair Anne Hathaway.

[gallery size="large" columns="1" ids="91483,91484,91479"]

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AKRON — DeLynn Geiger likes solving problems, being a voice of reason and serving his community.

As a way to continue serving Kosciusko County, the conservative Republican officially announced Wednesday he will be running in 2024 for one of the three county council at-large seats.

“I’ve always served the county. It’ll be 50 years in April. I started Geiger Excavating in ’74. (I’ve) been serving the business community and the county, and that’s who I am. I like serving people and I like solving problems and that’s some of my strengths and I still do that today,” Geiger said in an interview at The Grounded Coffee House in Akron. “Being on county council, my strengths would just fit.”

Geiger said he would like to share his strengths with the people of Kosciusko County.
There are three at-large seats on the council. Currently, they are filled by Sue Ann Mitchell, Joni Truex and Kathy Groninger and all three of the women’s terms end Dec. 31, 2024.

Terms of the other four council members don’t expire until the end of 2026.

Rachael Rhoades announced Nov. 16 she was running for a council at-large seat.

Geiger has attended a number of council meetings so far and he said he could apply his skills toward any issue that would come up before the council.

“With my track record over the years, I understand infrastructure, I work with a lot of departments in the county and have over the years. I work with architects and engineers now, and I’m noted and referred to as a voice of reason,” he stated, which is why he said he’s often brought into meetings. “Just to be able to help them make better decisions on how they are spending their money. I do that with Warsaw Schools, up at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s ... Purdue University, I work with them at Fort Wayne. I work with Huntington University. I work with a lot of the departments in the county and I work with a lot of the towns in the county.”

He said he works with a lot of people who rely on his years of experience and his agenda is for the benefit of the people of Kosciusko County.

One thing that Geiger said appealed to him about serving on the county council is that all the county departments have to go before the council at one time or another for the council’s approval.

“So you’re basically overseeing (the distribution of) tax dollars, and I’m very conservative and have been and I have a track record of being a strong entrepreneur in the county and people know that. And it’s in all phases, it’s not just in one area,” he said.

As an example of the many experiences he’s had, Geiger said he built up Geiger Excavating, runs Geiger Trenchless Solutions (GTS) now, has several properties, owns farms and he and his wife Lori own and operate The Grounded Coffee House.

“My first love is for the people of Kosciusko County and serving them with my years of experience,” he said. Because of the major decisions the county council makes that affects a lot of people, Geiger said a council person should have a lot of experience. The council also is distributing the taxpayers’ funds. “So that’s my strengths, and that’s why I get called in on different meetings and serve on different committees, and that’s why they often refer to me as a voice of reason.”

He also said he’s an innovator and comes up with a lot of ideas for his industry.
There are seven people who serve on the county council, each with their own unique personality and ways of looking at issues. Geiger said one of his strengths is getting along with different people.

“Everybody has a view. Everybody has an opinion. So you try to bring out the strengths on everybody and what they’re trying to do, what they’re trying to accomplish and then you try to bring all of that together so that you get everybody on the right page. And then when it’s all done, they’ll come to me and say, ‘Thank you.’ I get that to happen a lot,” he said.

Costs of everything from eggs to wood to road materials have increased over the last several years due at least in part to inflation. Geiger said another one of his strengths is dealing with rising costs.

“I come with a conservative approach and that’s the reason why - whether it be at Purdue or Saint Mary’s - I’ll come up with ways of how can you accomplish this project but still do it the most cost-effective way and not spend money you don’t need to be spending. That’s one of my strengths that I’m able to bring to the table, and that’s why I said you throw things at me and I’ll come up with a plan,” he said.

Even with dealing with inflation, Geiger said there are ways to get around that because he’s very conservative and innovative.

From time to time, the county council is requested to approve tax abatements. Asked for his opinion on tax abatements generally, Geiger responded, “As long as I look at the books and I see how that can be done but still allow us to be functioning and doing a good job for the rest of the taxpayers, then that’s fine.”

In making a decision on tax abatements, he said the council has to look at what the company requesting the tax abatement is doing in the community, how many jobs they are providing and creating, etc. “What you’re doing is giving them a break to a certain point, yet at the same time as long as we can keep functioning over here, we look at the whole, then it’s not like I have a strong opinion of ‘No, no,’ we need to balance that,” Geiger stated.

He grew up in Churubusco and spent two years in the medical field. He came to Warsaw in 1969 and graduated from Grace College with a teaching degree. In 1974, he started up Geiger Excavating.

Geiger has the coffee shop, several properties and three different farms now. He also owns GTS.

“That’s the nature of me. I’ve always been about serving people,” he said.

Summarizing himself up, Geiger said, “I’m definitely conservative. A strong entrepreneur and I have some practical business practices. I’m very conservative with dollars, not only for my own company but also for other companies. I show them ways of how to be able to get the most for their dollar, and that’s the reason I feel like I would be a good candidate for county council because that’s what you’re working with. You’re working with all those dollars and helping them to make sure they’re spent wisely.”

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