As of midday Tuesday, three Republicans have filed for the vacant Kosciusko County Council District 1 seat.
They are Kimberly Cates, William Dixon and Frank Rhoades.
The position became open when Councilman Doug Heinisch resigned May 18, effective that day, due to a change in his work schedule that conflicted with County Council meetings. By May 20, Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan scheduled a caucus for 6 p.m. June 7 in the Syracuse Town Council Chamber, 310 N. Huntington St., to replace Heinisch.
Individuals can still file for the June 7 caucus until 6 p.m. June 3. Eligible candidates must reside in Kosciusko County Council District 1, be a Republican in good standing and not have a felony in their past.
District 1 includes Turkey Creek and Tippecanoe townships, the eastern part of Plain Township and a little more than half of the northern half of Washington Township.
Caucus voters will include Mike Wilson, Plain 1; Tyler Huffer, Plain 4; Dan Thystrup, Tippecanoe 1; Mark Grady, Tippecanoe 2; Sue Ann Mitchell, Tippecanoe 3; Jim Smith, Tippecanoe 4; J.D. Ayres, Turkey Creek 1; Kimberly Cates, Turkey Creek 2; Turkey Creek 3 was recently vacated; Virginia Cazier, Turkey Creek 4; Karen Grady, Turkey Creek 5; Randy Girod, Turkey Creek 6; Frank Rhoades, Washington 1; and Tom Pletcher, Washington 2.
Asked if Cates and Rhoades would still be able to vote as precinct committeemen as they are seeking the position, Ragan said yes.
Cates
After serving on the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board, Turkey Creek Township Fire Territory Advisory Board and other local, state and international boards, Cates joined the County Council as an at-large member in June 2017. A caucus appointed her to replace Bob Sanders, who had died.
In 2020, Cates, 56, sought re-election to the Council, but did not make it out of the Republican primary. Kathleen Groninger took her spot, joining incumbents Joni Truex and Sue Ann Mitchell.
Her professional background is in tax and marketing, according to information Cates provided in January 2020. She has been a delegate to the Indiana State Republican Convention, been a Republican precinct chair and was one of six at-large delegates representing Indiana at the National Federation of Republican Women’s Convention in 2019.
In a telephone interview, Cates said the reason she is seeking the District 1 seat is because she really loves being able to serve the county and helping solve problems.
“I feel like I have experience in this and it’s the best fit for me right now. I feel (the Council) needs to have someone who can be involved, and I was involved and can be actively involved,” Cates said.
If she wins, she plans to seek re-election. The term expires Dec. 31, 2022.
“Bill and Frank are both really great guys so no matter who wins, the county wins. I feel I’m more available to people and have a track record. I really appreciate the (Jail Chemical Addiction Program) and we really need to look at alternatives,” she said.
The county has “so many priorities right now,” she said, and she was blessed to have served on the County Council with so many good, conservative people.
“I really want to go back to serve,” Cates said.
Dixon
In a telephone interview, Dixon said he was running for Council because, “I was surprised that the opening came up, but I understand the constituents of that part of the county very well. As a (Turkey Creek) Township Board member, I understand these folks. I can represent these folks. On the County Council, I can represent these people. The people of the district deserve someone who understands them, represents them and knows them.”
Although he lost to incumbent Curt Nisly, Dixon, 55, said he ran for Indiana state representative in 2020 for the same reason – to represent the people of the district well.
Dixon was born in the area and lived his entire life here, except while he was away for college. He was the owner and operator of Wawasee 103 radio station for 15 years, and served as the supply officer for Boy Scouts of America Anthony Wayne Council for seven years.
Currently, Dixon is a substitute school teacher and has a teacher’s license to teach math and business.
Asked if there was anything else he wanted people to know about him or why he was running, Dixon answered, “I think county funds and county projects should be for the benefit of the entire county. Occasionally, in the past, projects have been undertaken that did not benefit the entire county equally. These are rare, but do occur, and are quite large.”
Rhoades
Always having an interest in getting involved politically, Rhoades sees the caucus as being his opportunity to step up.
“I’m not sure what happened, but I got multiple phone calls from the political world to see if I was interested, to be honest,” he said during a telephone interview. “I’ve always had a desire to serve the community.”
He, who turns 70 next month, has served as a precinct committeeman for years after the idea was suggested to him by Sam Whitaker, he said.
“The idea is the County Council steers this county financially and they have a lot of responsibilities. I’m honored to even be considered. Having a business background and my own business for many years, I have knowledge about spending and budgeting. I don’t have an axe to grind or any issues with the current leadership; I applaud them for the work they do,” Rhoades said.
He said he’ll need to have the time to serve on the Council and being semi-retired now, he said he has that.
Rhoades grew up in Pierceton on a farm. His father started a business in the late 1970s/early 1980s selling synthetic oil and they also had the farming business. He said his dad had an entrepreneur’s streak, which led to different opportunities.
The selling of high-power cleaning equipment and generators led Rhoades to the formation of Cottage Watchman Security Systems and E.F. Rhoades & Sons. His son Jason now operates the company and is doing well, Rhoades said, continuing to grow even through the pandemic.
“I see there will be significant pressure on the County Council because of rising costs. I’ve got a hunch things will get very expensive. The Council will need support because of the rising costs,” Rhoades said.
Besides his businesses, Rhoades has been involved with the National Home Builders Association; served as the director of the local Builders Association for around 20 years; and been involved in the state organization. He recently was asked to serve as an associate member for the national council.
