Marshall County Republicans held a caucus on Thursday night to fill several vacant positions in county government and while there were three offices that were unopposed, two positions brought a number of candidates.
Janet Anglemyer decided to step down as Clerk-Treasurer of the Town of Bremen after 23 years of service to the town.
Two candidates put their hats in the ring for the position.
Brad Thornton, the current assistant to Anglemyer, was one of the candidates. Thornton was an Associate Pastor at Bremen Missionary Church and, for the last three years, has been Anglemyer’s assistant in the Clerk’s office.
The other candidate for the office was Meghan Atkins who is currently the Administrative Assistant for the Guidance Office at Bremen High School.
Atkins won the majority of Precinct Committeemen’s votes and will take over the position on Jan. 1, saying that she was “…excited about the opportunity.”
The office of German Township Trustee was the most contested position on the night with four candidates expressing their interest.
Benny Baker had served in that position and made the decision to step down effective Dec. 1.
Heath Thornton was one of the candidates. Thornton had previously served two terms on both the Bremen Town Council as well as two terms on the Marshall County Council.
Former Director of Operations for the town of Bremen, Trend Weldy also ran for the seat. Weldy spent 10 years in his previous position.
John Monhaut was also interested in the position. Monhaut had served on the German Township Advisory Board and said he was looking for another to serve the community.
Phil Meister was the final candidate for the job. Meister is the son of Don Meister who was a long-time Advisory Board member and said he had learned the job while being around his father and Baker.
Meister polled the majority of votes from the Precinct Committeemen and he will also take over the position on Jan. 1
A seat was vacant on the County Council in District Four for the coming year as the current officeholder, Adam Faulstich, will be taking a seat on the County Commissioners.
Steven Gorski was the only applicant for that position and will take his seat on the Council on Jan. 1
On Nov. 18 Bill Githens told the Culver Town Council that he would be resigning his seat at the end of the year. Githens will be moving from Culver.
Justin Croy, a teacher in the Culver schools, was the only candidate for the vacant Union 1 seat on the Council. Croy was in Fort Wayne with his wife for a doctor’s visit and was unable to attend the meeting in person.
The other vacant seat on the German Township Advisory Board was left vacant by the resignation in Sept. of Don Meister who had held that position since 1990.
Amy Castille was the only applicant for that seat and was named to the position.
The candidates will all assume their duties on Jan. 1, and will be sworn in with other new officeholders on Dec. 30 and 31.
