A GOP town convention was held on Thursday, Aug. 17, in the Pierceton Community Building. It determined who the three town council members and clerk-treasurer are for the next four years, as no candidates from other political parties filed to run in 2023. Winners were incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast and Council Member Matt Brubaker and newcomers Glenn Hall and Eric Trump, who both will also serve on the town council. From left: Brubaker; Mast; Trump; Convention Chairwoman Georgia Tenney; Hall; and Kosciusko County GOP Chairman Mike Ragan.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Pierceton town leadership starting next year will be made of two incumbents and two newcomers.

Town Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast and Council Member Matt Brubaker will serve another four years in their respective roles. Joining Brubaker on the council will be Glenn Hall and Eric Trump.

The four were chosen during a GOP town convention held on Thursday, Aug. 17, in the Pierceton Community Building. As no candidates from other parties opted to run in 2023, the convention has determined the town’s leadership for another four years.

Voters didn’t have to necessarily be Republicans however. All those who voted Thursday had to merely sign a statement saying they had voted Republican recently or pledged to do so just for the convention.

There were 79 voters who participated Thursday, which is 12% of the around 650 registered voters in Pierceton. Voting was done in two rounds, first for clerk-treasurer and then for the three town council members.

Mast got 48 votes to challenger Jerry Kreger’s 30. (One person Thursday only voted for town council.)

Hall got 75 votes, with Trump getting 72 and Brubaker 36. Other candidates Greg Chism and Chauncey Smith got 30 and 19 votes respectively.

Getting one vote was Gordon Baker, who announced earlier this week he was dropping out of the race due to personal reasons, but whose name still appeared on Thursday’s ballot.

Before the votes were cast, each candidate had five minutes to introduce themselves and share why they were running.

After the convention, the four candidates who won briefly spoke with InkFreeNews.

“I’m just excited to have been elected, and I look forward to getting to work with these guys and with Myra,” said Hall. “I think we have some work to do, but I do think it’s going to be a good cohesive team and I just look forward to getting involved.”

“I really think the big winner tonight was the town of Pierceton,” said Trump. “To have … people … take the time that they did to come out and vote and be part of the democratic process, I think that’s exciting. I’m just ready to start serving. I can’t wait until the start of the year when we can get the board arranged and start going.”

Brubaker said he “wanted to thank everybody for coming out (to vote).”

“It’s been a great eight years, and I’m looking forward to another four years and I can’t wait to see what we can do,” he added.

“I’m just excited to work with a new council and have new vision,” said Mast.

For more on the winners from the convention, check out the below stories InkFreeNews did with the candidates before Thursday.

2 More Candidates File For Pierceton Council

Brubaker Seeks 3rd Term On Pierceton Council

Mast Running For 2nd Term As Pierceton Clerk-Treasurer

Kosciusko County GOP Secretary Austin Rovenstine, left in the blue suit, and Tenney, next to him, help sign in voters before the convention’s start.