Jay Republicans to select replacement

Jay County’s Republican Central Committee has a set a date to hold a caucus to fill an impending vacancy on Jay County Council. 
A caucus to fill the seat of council president Mike Leonhard will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Jay County Library. Leonhard was elected as Jay County Commissioner for the north district when he handily defeated Democrat Robert Franks Jr. in November’s general election.
Leonhard represents District 3, which includes the precincts of Bearcreek, Wabash, Wayne 1 and Wayne 3. His current term is set to expire at the end of 2018. 
According the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, precinct committeemen eligible to participate in a caucus to fill a vacancy must represent a precinct in which voters are eligible to vote for the vacated office. The GOP committeemen of the four precincts of Leonhard’s district are Jeanne Houchins (Bearcreek), Tom Frye (Wabash), Leland LeMaster (Wayne 1) and Michael Brewster (Wayne 3). 
Houchins currently sits on county council and was re-elected in November to an at-large seat. Brewster won a contest in November for county coroner. 
Anyone interested in submitting their name for the open seat should contact Jay County Republican Party chairman Milo Miller, Jr., at (260) 726-5209. Those intending to submit their name must have the proper paperwork turned in to Miller by Dec. 16.