Chairman of the Kosciusko County Republican Party Mike Ragan has announced that Sheal Dirck and Cary Groninger filed paperwork to participate in an upcoming caucus that will pick a replacement for Ron Truex, who resigned Oct. 12.
Dirck said he had been contemplating running for commissioner after hearing Truex planned to retire after his current term.
Truex’s tenure was cut short this month after he realized he and his wife had moved out of the middle district and just over the line into the southern district.
Truex resigned last week as a result, and Republicans must now fill the seat for the remaining three years in the term.
Dirck, a Warsaw area resident, said he had thought about running for commissioner for a while, but had no interest in challenging Truex.
He said he wants to continue working to ensure the local economy remains viable and support infrastructure improvements.
The 48-year-old is president of Mavron Inc., which manufactures vehicles used in transportation of animals and prisoners.
50-year-old Groninger resides in the Mentone area and is president of G&G Hauling & Excavating Inc.
Groninger is a 1985 graduate of Tippecanoe Valley High School and said he wants to continue the strong leadership Truex provided over the last 17 years.
The caucus will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the courthouse. Deadline to submit paperwork to run is 7 p.m. Nov. 5, according to a press release from the party.
Declarations of candidacy are available at the office of Kosciusko County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw, and must be filed with Ragan no later than 72 hours before the caucus.
Candidates will be allowed three minutes to address the voting caucus.
