[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...a4074621178.txt

GOP caucus taps two for council races

By Deborah Sederberg
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, June 26, 2011 5:07 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — In a Republican Party caucus Saturday that lasted about five minutes, two more candidates were chosen to run this fall for seats on the Michigan City Common Council.

Brian Schroll, 37, 405 Bolka Ave., who lives in the Third Ward, was slated to run as an at-large candidate, while Mike Gonder, 52, 114 Bittersweet Trail, will seek the Sixth Ward seat against Chris Schwanke, who bested incumbent Phil Jankowski in the spring primary.

During the caucus at Station 801 restaurant, seven of Michigan City’s 10 committee chairs and vice chairs unanimously voted for Schroll for the at-large run.

“A couple of our committee people had to work today,” said Keith Harris, La Porte County Republican Party chairman and Republican candidate for Michigan City mayor.

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In the at-large race, Schroll will face Democrats Don Przybylinski, Tim Bietry and Joe Doyle.

During the caucus, Republican precinct chairs and vice chairs gave Harris the authority to appoint candidates to fill any vacant Republican spots on the November ballot by noon Thursday. Harris then could find two more Republicans to run in the at-large race.

While Schroll has a teaching degree, he does not have a teaching job.

“It’s about cuts to the education budget,” said Schroll, who sells insurance for First Secured Benefits of South Bend.

Asked why he decided to run, Schroll said, “I’ve followed politics for quite a while, and, to tell you the truth, I think we could use some younger faces on the City Council.”

Gonder, who is a sales manager for Sullivan-Palatek, unsuccessfully ran for La Porte County Council, a race Mark Yagelski won.

Harris said the Republicans now have four slots filled for the November election.

Harris is running for mayor, Gonder for Sixth Ward council, Schroll for at-large council and Kevin Walsh for First Ward council, facing Rich Murphy.

Gonder and Schroll said they soon will present a platform and the names of their committee members.