GOSHEN —
With Goshen City Council President Tom Stump headed to Elkhart County Council, a vacancy will need to be filled as of Jan. 1, according to Stump.
He will resign the city council office via a letter to Elkhart County Republican Party Chairman Dale Stickel, he said. His resignation will be effective Dec. 31.
“I’m excited for County Council,” Stump said Wednesday. “It presents new challenges.”
Stump won with more than 38,000 votes, as did Republican incumbents John Letherman and David Ashe. He said he decided to run for office because he wants to see more efficiency in government.
“I’m looking for efficiencies to suggest,” Stump said. “I’m excited about that.”
Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman said Stump has been a good asset to City Council.
“We disagreed on a lot of things, but we’ve probably agreed on more than we’ve disagreed on,” he said. While Stump has been a conservative voice on City Council, his time spent on Redevelopment Commission has been more progressive, Kauffman said. No matter where he serves, Stump has an ear open, Kauffman said.
“He still listens to people, and he’s willing to change his mind,” Kauffman said. “Sometimes he’ll oppose an idea when he first hears it, but after he listens to more details, sometimes he’ll think about it. He’s not afraid to express his own ideas or listen to others.”
Stump’s replacement will be selected through a process in December, he said. Once Stickel has received his resignation letter, he will call a caucus of the Goshen City Precinct Republican committeemen.
This caucus will hear from interested individuals, and then they will vote for Stump’s replacement. All of this will take place sometime in December, Stump said.
Local Republican Brett Weddell said he’s very interested in the possibility of being on City Council. Weddell ran against Councilman Everett Thomas in a Nov. 8, 2011, election, but lost.
“I’m definitely interested in being on the city council,” Weddell said.
If elected by the caucus, Weddell said he would like to spend time getting used to the council position before attempting to lead any ideas to the council.
“My first goal would be to get accustomed to the position,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to make any large moves.”
Weddell also took time to congratulate Stump.
“I was very happy to see that Stump won,” Weddell said. “...Tom is a great individual, and he’s got huge shoes to fill.”
Stump said he will miss Goshen’s City Council.
“I will have been there 21 years by the end of December,” Stump said. “But I expect to still be part of the city.”
Also up for grabs is the City Council President position. Stump said that will be handled in January, though he doesn’t know who will become the next president. Kauffman said he was also unsure if the Republican members of the council, who hold a majority, would vote for a Democratic council president with more experience or a Republican president with less experience.
Stump said he’ll still be present at some city meetings, and that he believes Kauffman will continue his appointment to the Redevelopment Commission.
“I have ideas (for the Commission),” Stump said with a laugh.
For more information on Goshen City Council, visit www.goshenindiana.org/content/city-council.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Stump and Weddell.jpg
Goshen City Council will have new face in 2013
- Local News
-
-
Sentence dealt for reckless homicide
GOSHEN — From the witness stand in Elkhart Circuit Court, Kristina Wolfinger could see the man who killed her brother. She described what she didn’t see.
-
Milford Fest activities to fill Saturday
Milford Fest will take place in downtown Milford Saturday.
Events begin at 7 a.m. and continue through 9 p.m. -
Local Memorial Day events set
The following are scheduled Memorial Day services in the area:
-
Charlie Daniels Band coming to Shipshewana
He’s got the hat, the fiddle and the hits. And he’s feeling revitalized.
In a recent telephone interview with The Goshen News, 74-year-old Charlie Daniels said he is feeling like a new man after his pacemaker procedure earlier this year. He says everything is in sync and he is having a great time on the road.
“I’m enjoying this tour and we are looking forward to making music in Indiana,” the country-rock icon said. -
State senate honors Middlebury teen
The Indiana Senate recognized Northridge High School senior Alexandra Hochstetler, who is Indiana’s Distinguished Young Woman.
-
Volunteers help plant annual quilt gardens
GOSHEN - Colorful gardens are popping up across Elkhart and LaGrange counties this week as volunteers plant the annual quilt gardens.
-
WWI vet to be honored at dusk to dawn vigil
MIDDLEBURY — Guests speakers at the Middlebury American Legion Post 210 annual dusk to dawn vigil at Grace Lawn Cemetery reads like a who’s who list in Indiana government.
-
Dozens treated after school buses collide
NORTH WEBSTER — A crash involving four Wawasee Community School buses Wednesday resulted in more than 50 injured students, according to Kosciusko County police.
-
Fitness Fridays begin at Parkview LaGrange
Looking for a way to “jump start” your weekend activities? Leaders at Parkview LaGrange Hospital invite the public to join them every Friday at 4 p.m. for a 2-mile walk around the hospital’s half-mile walking track.
-
UPDATE: Wawasee bus driver, some students taken to hospital after crash
SYRACUSE — A crash Wednesday afternoon involving four Wawawsee Community School buses has sent 25 children and a bus driver to local hospitals for treatment. The crash occurred on Ind. 13 near Clark Marina, which is between Wawasee Middle School and the North Webster town limits.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
