Kosciusko County GOP Chair Mike Ragan, left, shakes hands with Mitchell “Mitch” Rader following his announcement of his appointment of Rader to fill out Doug Jones’ term on the Leesburg Town Council on Tuesday, Dec. 27. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Mitchell “Mitch” Rader will replace Doug Jones on the Leesburg Town Council.

On Tuesday, Dec. 27, outside the Kosciusko County Clerk’s Office in the Kosciusko County Justice Building, Kosciusko GOP Chair Mike Ragan announced his appointment of Rader to finish Jones’ term, as the latter opted to resign from his council seat. That term ends Dec. 31, 2023.

Ragan chose Rader over Amanda Brookins-Bibler and Darrin Lincoln. He was allowed to appoint someone to finish out Jones’ term instead of a caucus being held due to only one GOP precinct committeeman being eligible to vote in such an event.

In the statement he read announcing Rader’s appointment, Ragan noted that any of the candidates who filed for Jones’ seat “would be an asset to the Leesburg Town Board.”

He said he chose Rader based on an “interview (as well as) several Leesburg citizens contact(ing) me in support of (him).”

Rader comes to the role having served as Leesburg’s clerk-treasurer in the past as well as on the Plain Township Fire Department for 45 years, including time spent as its chief.

“I’d like to thank Doug Jones for his approximately 14 years of service and the other candidates, Amanda and Darrin, for their interest in the town of Leesburg,” Rader told media members following the announcement of his appointment.

“I would like to explore some grants to help with some of the economic and community development that the town could use,” said Rader of one of his goals for serving on the council. “I look forward to working with (fellow council members) Tom (Moore) and Christina (Archer) to further the work that they’ve put forward and help them on any new ventures that we deem necessary for the town.”

Kosciusko County GOP Secretary Austin Rovenstine, right, swears in Mitchell “Mitch” Rader.