KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The day is near to cast your vote for president, senator, state leadership, local officials and school board officials. The general election for 2016 is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
InkFreeNews will be publishing county results Tuesday evening, as they become available.
While voters will be casting votes for elected officials the ballot includes a public question on a constitutional amendment and retention of two Indiana Court of Appeals judges: Judge Terry A. Crone, 3rd District; and Judge Patricia A. Riley, 4th District.
Public question No. 1 asks if the state’s constitution should be amended by adding a Section 39 to Article 1 to provide the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife shall be forever preserved for the public good, subject only to the laws prescribed by the General Assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the General Assembly to: (1) promote wildlife conservation and management; and (2) preserve the future of hunting and fishing?
Who Will Be On Your Ballot?
All voters in the area will see the same candidates for president and vice president, U.S. Senator, governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general and superintendent. These names will be listed on the ballot by the party of the Secretary of State, who is Republican. They will also see the same names for county elections and Wawasee School Board. These will be listed by districts.
What will be different are the names shown for U.S. Representative, State Senators and State Representatives.
Those voters residing in all townships of Kosciusko County, expect Jackson, Monroe, Tippecanoe, Washington, and a portion of Wayne townships will be voting for U.S. Rep. 2nd District. These candidates are Jackie Walorski, Republican; Lynn C. Coleman, Democrat; and Ron Cenkush, Libertarian.
Residents in Jackson, Monroe, Tippecanoe, Washington, and a portion of Wayne townships will cast a vote for U.S. Representative 3rd District, whose candidates are Jim Banks, Republican; Tommy A. Schrader, Democrat; and Pepper Snyder, Libertarian.
Click here to view a map of the U.S. House of Representative districts.
The local area is also split when it comes to voting for State Senator.
Senate District 9, covers Etna, Jefferson, Prairie, Plain, Scott, Tippecanoe, Van Buren, Washington and Wayne township. Ryan Mishler, Republican is the candidate for this seat.
Senate District 12 encompasses Turkey Creek Township. Voters in this area will vote for Blake Doriot, Republican, or Carl Rust, Democrat.
Senate District 18 covers Clay, Franklin, Harrison, Jackson, Lake, Monroe, and Seward townships. Randy Head is the candidate for this district.
In the State Representative District 18 race, those residing in Clay, Franklin, Jackson, Lake, Monroe, Seward, Washington, the east portion of Wayne and southeastern portion of Plain townships will cast votes for David A. Wolkins, Republican or Dee M. Moore, Democrat
Residents in Etna, Jefferson, Harrison, Prairie, Scott, Tippecanoe, Turkey Creek and Van Buren townships and portions of Plain and Wayne township will vote in the State Representative District 22 race. Those candidates are Curt Nisly, Republican and Brian J. Smith, Democrat.
A map of the state’s representative districts can be found here. To view a map of the state’s senate districts go here.
County Races
All residents in the county will be voting for candidates seeking county offices. There are no races in the seven offices.
Candidates include:
Clerk of Circuit Court — Ann M. Torpy, Republican
County Treasurer — Rhonda J. Helser, Republican
County Coroner — Anthony W. Ciriello, Republican
County Surveyor — Michael E. Kissinger, Republican
County Commissioner-Middle District — Ronald Truex, Republican
County Commissioner – Northern District — Brad Jackson, Republican
County Council At-Large — Sue Ann Mitchell, Robert (Bob) Sanders and Joni L. Truex, all Republicans
National and State Races
These names will appear on the ballot for national and state races:
President and vice president — Donald J. Trump and Michael R. Pence, Republican; Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, Democrat; and Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, Libertarian.
United States Senate — Todd Young, Republican; Evan Bayh, Democrat; and Lucy Brenton, Libertarian.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor — Eric Holcomb and Suzanne Crouch, Republican; John R. Gregg and Christina Hale, Democrat; and Rex Bell and Karl (K-Tat) Tatgenhorst, Libertarian.
Attorney General — Curtis T. Hill, Jr., Republican and Lorenzo Arrendondo, Democrat.
Superintendent of Public Instruction — Jennifer McCormick, Republican and Glenda Ritz, Democrat
School Boards
School board elections will also be divided by areas in which residents live.
Tippecanoe Valley — Residents residing in Kosciusko County who are a part of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation will vote for one person in each district. These candidates are:
District 1 — Tyler Bouse, David O’Brien or Aaron A. Zolman.
District 2 — Adam S. Heckaman, Stephanie M. Overbey or Matt Smith.
Triton — Residents residing in Kosciusko County who are a part of the Triton School Corporation will vote for one person in each district. These candidates are:
District At-Large — Kevin R. Boyer
District 3 — Amy Middaugh
Wa-Nee — Residents in the Wa-Nee Community Schools residing in Kosciusko County will be voting for two at-large candidates and one candidate from Scott and Jefferson township. These candidates are:
At-Large — Christina Eshelman and Shawn C. Johnson
Scott & Jefferson Townships — Don Lehman
Warsaw — Candidates for Warsaw Community Schools Board of Trustees are only voted on by those residents residing within the districts with seats up for election. Those districts having elections are:
District 3 — Elizabeth D. (Elle) Turley
District 4 — Randy Polston
District 6 — Jay M. Baumgartner
Wawasee — Residents residing in Kosciusko County who are a part of the Wawasee School Corporation will vote for one individual from each district. Candidates are:
District 1 — Gerald Coy or Mike Wilson
District 2 — Donald August Bokhart, Michael E. Lamle or David Rosenberry