James Moyer Archives - News Now Warsaw

County councilwoman Mitchell tops two others in race for commissioner

Dan Spalding — Wed, 08 May 2024 11:42:49 +0000

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Sue Ann Mitchell looked beyond keeping a comfortable seat on Kosciusko County Council and took a last-minute gamble in February — hours before the filing deadline — to file for the northern district county commissioner seat.

On Tuesday, the gamble paid off when she defeated two candidates and won the Republican nomination for commissioner, a role that affords more policy-making decisions.

Mitchell won 47 percent of the vote, followed by Syracuse Town Council President Nate Scherer with 33 percent and Marcia Bumgartner with 17 percent.

“I wish Nate the best in trying to do something positive for his next step, and Marcia has been a great friend,” Mitchell said outside of Republican headquarters in Warsaw after final results were released.

In his campaign bid, Scherer was quickly endorsed by longtime commissioner Brad Jackson who announced plans to step down this winter.

But Mitchell eventually objected to what she called Scherer’s “vested interest” in a residential development plan for the old South Shore golf course south of Syracuse, which he has a stake in.

Syracuse Town Council is working to see the residential proposal flourish.

Earlier this year, attempts were made by some state lawmakers to change annexation law that would have allowed the town to annex the development property (for the sake of extending sewer service to the project) even though the town and property are not contiguously connected.

The legislative effort, though, died and the project remains in limbo.

Mitchell called out Scherer during the campaign for the circumstances, saying in a Times-Union campaign ad that she would “not ask the county for any help with any personal business” that would “put money in her pocket.”

On Tuesday, she said she thought voters heard her message.

“I think so,” she said.

As circumstances changed, she said, “I felt like a better position for me was to be a commissioner instead, having no guarantee that I was going to be able to win at all … But I so appreciate the voters and the fact that they still believe in me.”

If elected in November, she said she hopes to continue to revive the county’s long term strategic plan.

Two top issues she sees in the future involve county input for planning of the proposed revamping of US 30 and maintenance issues for county property.

The county has been using millions of dollars from federal covid money in the past year to catch up on numerous maintenance issues.

“County building maintenance … is something near and dear to my heart and that’s very important because we’re not going to have another $15 million in our lap in order to redo buildings,” she said. “That’s critical to me.”

She said Tuesday that her role, if she wins in November, will likely be her final elected position. “Yeah, I would say the commissioner’s position will be the last thing I will seek,” she said.

Tuesday night provided a moment of reflection for Mitchell who was a 25-year-old office worker for General Motors in Anderson when her husband suddenly died following open heart surgery.

She left Anderson to start a new life and arrived in North Webster — a community where she knew nobody.

“I think today where I would have been if I would have stayed in Anderson and what a blessing it has been to live in Kosciusko County,” she said. “I am so blessed.”

Mitchell’s victory was one of four contested races for Republicans in Kosciusko County.

Other winners in the four races for county level contests were Matthew Buehler who defeated Jack Birch in an open race for Circuit Court. Buehler collected 54 percent of the votes compared to 45 percent for Birch in what turned out to be the closest competitive contest.

In the race for surveyor, James Moyer defeated Ryan Prince, gaining 66.5 percent of the vote.

In the race for coroner, incumbent Tyler Huffer topped Tracy Cutler-Wilson by a margin of 65-34.

GOP Chair Mike Ragan said he was pleased with the victories and the field of candidates Republicans put forth on the ballot.

Turnout for Tuesday’s primary, though, was light and hovered around just 20 percent.

The post County councilwoman Mitchell tops two others in race for commissioner appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Election filing begins slowly in Kosciusko County

Dan Spalding — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:58:32 +0000

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Candidate filings for Kosciusko County offices started out slowly on Wednesday morning, the first day of filing.

James Moyer

Unlike some years when large groups of Republicans would arrive early at the Justice Building on the first day of filing, just two candidates filled out paperwork in the first 30 minutes Wednesday.

Those included James Moyer, who works as the assistant surveyor and is running to replace Mike Kissinger who has announced plans to step down.

Moyer said he’d like to upgrade the public access for records in the office.

The other was Rachel Rhoades, who is running for an at-large seat on county council and previously announced her campaign. She said she plans to run an aggressive campaign that will include billboards and door to door campaign across the county.

Deadline for county elections is Feb. 7.

Filing for School board races runs from May 21 to June 20. School districts include Warsaw, Wawasee, Whitko, Wanee, Triton and Tippecanoe valley.

To learn more about the local elections, click here.

From left, Rachel Rhoades and James Moyer look up while filling out forms as they file their candidacy paperwok Wednesday morning. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.

The post Election filing begins slowly in Kosciusko County appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Moyer announces run for Surveyor

David Slone, Times Union — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:50:50 +0000

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — James Moyer announced he is seeking the nomination of Kosciusko County surveyor in the 2024 election.

He has been a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County, living in and raising his family in the Atwood area. He is a graduate of Warsaw Community High School and holds a degree in engineering.

He is a member of the Atwood Aldersgate United Methodist church where he is the board president and the vice president of the Atwood Lions Club. He was a member of the Atwood Fire Department for 25 years where he was an officer for many years, as well as the secretary for the Kosciusko County Firemen’s Association.

He served as the Harrison Township trustee for 15 years and on the Kosciusko County Council for five, with three of those as the vice chairman, according to a news release from Moyer.

He has been part of the construction industry all his life, something passed on to him by his father and grandfather. He has worked as a carpenter, surveyor, heavy equipment operator and project foremen. He has been part of countless projects throughout Kosciusko County.

Moyer was employed by the largest civil engineering and land surveying company in Elkhart County for many years, surveying in a dozen counties across Indiana and Michigan. He also worked for several farmers in the Clunette and Atwood communities during his teenage years, giving him invaluable experience that only an agricultural lifestyle can provide, according to the release. He has served on numerous boards, committees and organizations and is currently serving the public as the Kosciusko County assistant surveyor.

“I’m seeking to be the next Kosciusko County surveyor. I will organize the surveyor’s office to be proactive in our drainage maintenance work while continuing the section corner perpetuation program, which now has an 80% completion rate since I have been in the field. I have a great deal of experience with government budgets and accounting. I will be a good steward of the taxpayer’s dollar. Throughout my life here, the many friends and contacts I’ve made have taught me to listen and focus on their concerns. I will continue to work alongside all the groups and organizations, both public and private, to improve the water quality in the county and be proactive in reducing erosion and flooding conditions. I look forward to continuing my public service to the people of Kosciusko County and I would appreciate your vote in the May primary,” he said.

Mike Kissinger is the current county surveyor.

The post Moyer announces run for Surveyor appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

James Moyer Archives - News Now Warsaw

County councilwoman Mitchell tops two others in race for commissioner

By Dan Spalding News Now Warsaw

Election filing begins slowly in Kosciusko County

By Dan Spalding News Now Warsaw

Moyer announces run for Surveyor

By David Slone Times-Union

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

By David Slone
Times-Union