KOSCIUSKO —  Last week, Sylvia Gargett announced her resignation from the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board citing personal reasons. Gargett was appointed to the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board on June 29, 2017.

Sylvia Gargett

Official paperwork filed with the Kosciusko County Clerk revealed that the reason for Gargett’s resignation was due to a past felony conviction. Indiana code states that a person cannot serve in an elected position if convicted of a felony.

Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan stated that he found out about the felony conviction by accident through an unrelated conversation. “I immediately contacted her and told her I needed to meet with her … I told her she needed to withdraw from her position and the ballot.”

Gargett filed her resignation from the position and from the upcoming ballot. She was instructed to refund any money she earned from the position and has since done so.

In December 2001, Gargett was charged with deception/misrepresenting identity, a class A misdemeanor; obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, a class D felony; and theft, a class D felony.

Gargett pled guilty to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Pursuant to a plea agreement, all other charges were dropped. After receiving a satisfactory discharge from probation, the judgment was amended to reduce the class D felony to a class A misdemeanor in 2004.

Ragen explained that since 2008, Gargett has been eligible to have the charges expunged from her record. If the charges are expunged now, Gargett would be reeligible to run for an elected position.

A caucus of Republican Precinct Committeemen in Turkey Creek Township has been called for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9. The caucus will be held in the Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse.

Eligible candidates, who reside in Turkey Creek Township, can obtain declarations of candidacy at the office of the Kosciusko County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 121 N. Lake St, Warsaw, and need to be filed with the chairman no later than 72 hours before the start of the caucus.

The new township board member will be appointed by eligible members of the Republican Precinct Committeemen of Turkey Creek Township who have served a minimum of 30 days before Aug. 9.

Interested candidates can file their declaration of candidacy with Mike Ragan by mail at 1458 E. 75N, Warsaw, IN 46582 or email [email protected]. For further information, persons may contact Ragan at (574) 265-1430.