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  • Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman, a Democrat, is endorsing two Republicans, Mike Yoder, who is seeking the Elkhart County Commissioner District 2 seat, and Tom Stump, who is seeking a seat on the Elkhart County Council.

    Kauffman endorsement
May 6, 2012

Dem. mayor endorses Republicans

By DAN SPALDING THE GOSHEN NEWS

GOSHEN — Longtime Democrat Mayor Allan Kauffman has made the unusual move of endorsing two local Republicans in Tuesday’s election.

With no Democrats running in any contested primary races for Elkhart County commissioner or council, the Goshen mayor entered the electoral fray through a lengthy post on his Facebook page.

Kauffman threw his support behind Goshen City Council President Tom Stump who is one of five Republicans running for three at-large seats for county council.

He also endorsed incumbent commissioner Mike Yoder who faces a challenge in the District 2 race from Darryl Riegsecker, whose brother, Don Riegsecker, lost in the mayoral election last fall to Kauffman.

Darryl Riegsecker is a former city council member who is serving his first term on the county council.

In his announcement, Kauffman urged Democrats and Independents to take a Republican ballot Tuesday.

“If my party isn’t able to slate credible candidates for some empty slots after the primary, the winners of the Republican primary will be the likely winners in the general election. Democrats and Independents, by voting in the Republican Party, can help choose the best of Republican candidates,” Kauffman wrote.

Without Yoder, Kauffman warns, “there is greater likelihood that our county could stagnate, or even move backward.”

Furthermore, Kauffman says Yoder is “intelligent and is able to navigate complex matters to reach responsible solutions.”

As for Stump, Kauffman admits they don’t often see eye-to-eye on some issues, but credits Stump with being an important influence on many projects the city Redevelopment Commission has undertaken.

“There is no question that Tom is conservative. But he’s not a knee-jerk conservative,” Kauffman wrote.

Stump’s opponents include council president John Letherman, incumbent David Ashe and challengers Jason Obendorf and Randy Wilson.

Stump has campaigned on a pledge of trying to improve relations between the city of Goshen and the county and said he’d help push for some kind of cooperative agreement in developing an arterial road south of Goshen that would connect industrial traffic on Goshen’s east side to the new four-lane C.R. 17 to the west.

One Democrat, Ralph Spelbring, of Elkhart, has filed to run for county council.

Yoder said he appreciates the support and points out that he currently has an advertisement encouraging Republicans, Democrats and independents to support him. He said he represents all people in the county.

Yoder said Kauffman’s support is another indication that voting in the Republican primary is often the only way for residents to have a say in county government.

 “Certainly, the mayor and I don’t agree on all points, but I’ve appreciated the mayor’s willingness to sit down and talk on all the issues and I think he’s appreciated the same from me.”

Riegsecker said he found the endorsement odd because of Kauffman’s desire for unity between the city and county.

“He’s been complaining because they don’t work together and then all of the sudden he endorses one.”

Riegsecker has also been pledging to improve relations between the county, the city of Goshen and townships.

Riegsecker lives in Goshen. Yoder lives in Middlebury.

“I was shocked, but that’s alright. We’re still going to move forward.”

Stump could not be reached for comment.

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