Libertarian candidate emerges for 2011 Columbia City Mayoral race
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
A third candidate's interest in running for Mayor of Columbia City is a historic item of note -- post-primary election, of course.
On Friday, Scott Wise filed official paperwork with the Whitley County Clerk's office, becoming the first non-Republican, non-Democratic candidate to run for the mayoral seat.
Recently, per election rules, Wise was approved by the Libertarian Party to seek the office. Wise will be the first Libertarian candidate to run for a local-level election in Whitley County.
"It's kind of exciting," said Jessica Hockemeyer, Whitley County voter registration election supervisor, of the prospect of a third candidate in the 2011 November General Election.
After a brief discussion with former county clerks Lisa Rossiter and Cindy Doolittle, current Whitley County Clerk Debbie Beers stated this would be the first time a Libertarian or Independent has possibly ever sought the mayor's seat.
"This is a whole new ballgame for us," Beers said. "It will be really interesting to see what the voters think."
Preparations for a third, local level candidate may require a little more work of the clerk's office, but they have had Libertarian candidates on the ballot for state and federal level elections in the past.
Wise was a former Republican Whitley County Councilman, but denounced his party status to become a Libertarian in 2006 after being defeated in the Republican May primary for re-election to county council. In 2008, he ran as a Republican in the May primary election for the Third District Congressional seat against Mark Souder, but was defeated. Wise ran for Congress again in 2010 as a Libertarian against Republican candidate Marlin Stutzman and Democratic candidate Dr. Tom Hayhurst.
Wise is a 1985 graduate of Westview High School and in 1991 graduated from Indiana University's South Bend campus with a degree in public affairs.
A third candidate's interest in running for Mayor of Columbia City is a historic item of note -- post-primary election, of course.
On Friday, Scott Wise filed official paperwork with the Whitley County Clerk's office, becoming the first non-Republican, non-Democratic candidate to run for the mayoral seat.
Recently, per election rules, Wise was approved by the Libertarian Party to seek the office. Wise will be the first Libertarian candidate to run for a local-level election in Whitley County.
"It's kind of exciting," said Jessica Hockemeyer, Whitley County voter registration election supervisor, of the prospect of a third candidate in the 2011 November General Election.
After a brief discussion with former county clerks Lisa Rossiter and Cindy Doolittle, current Whitley County Clerk Debbie Beers stated this would be the first time a Libertarian or Independent has possibly ever sought the mayor's seat.
"This is a whole new ballgame for us," Beers said. "It will be really interesting to see what the voters think."
Preparations for a third, local level candidate may require a little more work of the clerk's office, but they have had Libertarian candidates on the ballot for state and federal level elections in the past.
Wise was a former Republican Whitley County Councilman, but denounced his party status to become a Libertarian in 2006 after being defeated in the Republican May primary for re-election to county council. In 2008, he ran as a Republican in the May primary election for the Third District Congressional seat against Mark Souder, but was defeated. Wise ran for Congress again in 2010 as a Libertarian against Republican candidate Marlin Stutzman and Democratic candidate Dr. Tom Hayhurst.
Wise is a 1985 graduate of Westview High School and in 1991 graduated from Indiana University's South Bend campus with a degree in public affairs.