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County votes for leadership change |
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Wednesday, May 07 2008 |
By TJ HEMLINGER
Staff writer
Whitley County Republican voters signaled their desire for change Tuesday when they overturned veteran county commissioner Jim Pettigrew in the primary election, instead choosing long-time Smith Township trustee Don Amber to run in the fall election in District III.
Pettigrew (844 votes) actually finished third behind Amber (1,105) and former county councilman Mark Roach (998).
Amber said the theme he heard most frequently when campaigning was “change.”
“And, honestly, they (the voters) rarely ever wanted to talk issues,” he said Tuesday night after the results were in. “I heard a lot of them say they wanted change. I didn’t write it, and I didn’t say it.
“If people pressure me on it, this county really does things right. I did not want to run against (Pettigrew), but in all honesty I’m 62 and it’s now or never. I didn’t want to run against Mr. Roach, either. It was a clean campaign.”
The Democrats did not field a candidate for the primary, so Amber’s fall opponent is not yet known.
“I’ve been a township trustee for more than 20 years, and I love it. If I lose in the fall, I’ll go back to being a trustee,” Amber said.
Tom Rethlake, the incumbent commissioner from District I, ran unopposed in the primary. He said the No. 1 issue he heard while campaigning was roads.
“People are concerned with how their wheel tax is being spent,” he said Tuesday night.
“The second issue is the EMS. Right now we have a handle on it, but we only have a one-year contract. We’re required by state statute to provide emergency medical service.”
Rethlake said senior citizens who are on fixed budgets are concerned.
“If we can hold up on projects and hold them down, we’ll help them. If you’re working, you get a little bump (in income), but senior citizens don’t. I have a lot of respect for those people.”
Roach agreed that roads were the No. 1 issue.
“That was the biggest issue I saw,” he said.
He said he was going to stay in Republican politics and help county chairman Jim Banks, who will run for one of the spots on the county council in the fall elections.
Banks said Tuesday night, “More than anything, people want something new. They wanted new leadership in the county.
“Jim Pettigrew is someone who has served the county for a long time. He has done great things. The Republican party is very thankful.
“But voters all over the county and the country want change. Don Amber is someone people have known for a long time. He’s worked with EMS and been the Smith Township trustee. He’ll do a great job; he’s a hard worker.
“I think I’m most excited about working for a team of candidates like this one, and we don’t take the (fall) elections for granted. The Democrats have voted in significant numbers (in the primary).”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, May 08 2008 )
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