Ron Shoemaker was elected during a caucus Thursday night to fill the Warsaw City Council District 2 seat vacant by Charlie Smith.
Jim Maze also sought the seat.
Shoemaker was elected to fill Smith’s remaining term on the council until Dec. 31, and also was elected to serve a four-year term Jan. 1 until Dec. 31, 2019.
Precinct committee members Joe Thallemer, Tyler Huffer and Shoemaker voted during the caucus.
Thallemer thanked Randy Girod, Kosciusko County GOP chair, for organizing the caucus.
Girod acknowledged Smith for his service to the city.
“He devoted his heart and soul to this community. Charlie would say don’t dwell on the past, let’s focus on the future,” Girod said.
Each candidate had three minutes to state why they wanted to fill the seat.
Jack Wilhite, newly elected Warsaw City Councilman, spoke in support of Shoemaker and provided his background.
Shoemaker was raised in Warsaw, is a 1966 graduate of Warsaw Community High School and attended Indiana University. He entered the orthopedic industry in Warsaw with DePuy. He accepted a position with Zimmer in Minneapolis, Minn.
He served as a county commissioner in Fairfield, Ohio, and led the commission from debt to almost a $1 million surplus in the first year, and assisted with the River Valley Mall project.
He was elected as Warsaw District 2 precinct committeeman in 2012 and is chairman of the 3rd District Congressional Finance Committee.
Shoemaker read a letter Smith wrote in 2012 supporting him to serve as a precinct committeeman.
In the letter, Smith said Shoemaker is devoted to Warsaw and desires to enhance the public awareness of the importance of each citizen’s right to vote.
Shoemaker said he is honored to serve on the council.
“This is bittersweet. I really admired Charlie. We have a great mayor and council and I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and see how I might be able to help,” Shoemaker said.
(Story By The Times Union)
