Council candidates speak at GOP lunch

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A number of Republican candidates for Van Wert City Council got the chance to speak to their fellow party members during a luncheon held Friday at Willow Bend Country Club.

Those speaking included both candidates for council president, Ken Mengerink and Pete Weir; Kirby Kelly and Stan Agler, two of the four Republicans running for at-large Council sets (fellow Republican candidates Brent Crone and Jon Tomlinson couldn’t attend); Jerry Mazur, one of two Republicans running for the Third Ward Council seat (incumbent Stuart Jewett couldn’t attend); and Steve Trittschuh, who is running unopposed in May for the Fourth Ward Council seat, but must meet Democrat Jim Hamman in November.

GOP County Chairman Marty Burchfield gave each candidate five minutes to provide information about their backgrounds and why they feel they would be good candidates for office. A question-and-answer session was also provided following all of the candidates’ presentations.

Each provided information on their business and community involvement.

Mengerink, a retired employee of Central Insurance Company who worked in the company’s Information Technology Department, noted his experience in local government as a four-term member of Van Wert City Council in the 1980s and a member of Van Wert City Board of Education (20 years, with 14 spent as board president), and Vantage Board of Education (12 years, eight of those as board president).

Weir, who has a degree in computer science and currently seeking a degree in quality engineering, talked about his 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy and how his experience as a chief petty officer and naval officer and the knowledge he has sought on how City Council works would help him provide leadership to Council.

Agler, a former city mayor and longtime City Council member, emphasized his experience and the knowledge he brings to Council, as well as his commitment to keeping the community informed on city issues, while Kelly, who also served a term as Second Ward Councilman, talked about his willingness to work to make the city a better place to live and work.

Trittschuh, a first-time political candidate, talked about his background as an employee of Central Insurance Company, and his wish to get more involved in making the community better through service on City Council.

Mazur provided information on his extensive business background, as well as his volunteer efforts in Van Wert, which includes founding the successful Festival of Flight events formerly held at the Van Wert County Regional Airport and last year’s Van Wert Hot Air Festival.