Jeff Grose is the first incumbent Warsaw city councilman to announce re-election plans.
Grose, a 52-year-old Republican, is finishing his fifth term on council.
He represents the 1st District and said he plans to file paperwork on Wednesday to run again.
In addition to his role on council, Grose serves on the board of works, redevelopment commission and the wage and benefits committee. He has helped head up the deer reduction program.
In a news release, he pledges to continue to provide a pro-active residential-friendly view on city council as the city continues to grow.
“Over the past two decades, our city has experienced an overwhelming amount of growth and change. I believe our residents still need a proactive residential-friendly view on the city council as we continue to deal with the benefits and public responsibilities associated with commercial and industrial growth,” Grose said.
“Maintaining the appropriate ‘balance’ will be very critical as we continue to face the issues of growth and development in our city,” he said.
Grose points out that through his work with Mayor Joe Thallemer, Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen and other council members, the city has been able to maintain a flat tax rate over the past three years.
He said he has strived to be a fiscal conservative while “maintaining, improving and consistently providing the vast number of public services supporting our private sector,” Grose said.
He is the social studies department chair at Warsaw Community High School where, as a student, he was part of the boys basketball state championship team in 1984. A year later, he was named Indiana Mr. Basketball.
He is married and the father of four children and lives in the same neighborhood near Lincoln Elementary where he grew up.
In his news release, Grose said it has been a privilege to represent his district, credited the community for providing guidance and support over the years, and said it “is now a pleasure giving back what I have received as a husband, father, public school teacher, basketball coach, church member and civic leader.”
He also reiterated his desire to keep in touch with constituents and encouraged them to contact him if they have questions or concerns.
Input from constituents, he said, have guided his decisions on a long range of issues, including the Main Street infrastructure improvements, the site plan for the new Lincoln Elementary School, sewage line improvements and plant expansion, and the modification of trash and recycling services.
As the city continues to grow and work to incentivize commercial and industrial growth, Grose said he will work to “protect our already developed residential neighborhoods by reminding others not to forget about the importance of maintaining and preserving our small town atmosphere and quality of life.”
The filing period begins Wednesday and continues to noon Feb. 8. Primary election day is May 7.
