Elkhart County names new leadership, one seat still vacant
UPDATE:
On Friday, Elkhart County Commissioners issued a joint statement in response to the comments made by Heidt.
"The recent claims made during the Republican Party Concord Assessor caucus are patently false and counterproductive to serving the property owners of Concord Township and taxpayers of Elkhart County," said Brad Rogers, Suzie Weirick and Bob Barnes.
"Elkhart County elected officials, including the County Assessor, County Council, and County Commissioners have been working on a transition plan to make the Concord Township Assessor's Office more efficient and more accountable to the taxpayers of Elkhart County.The Concord Township Assessor's office has been the subject of personnel turmoil, wasted tax dollars, election rules violations, charges through the Prosecutor's office, and over 100 million dollars in missed assessments. The previous assessor resigned in the wake of the allegations leaving the county employees in the Concord Assessor's office without the required statutory guidance or supervision. As per Indiana state law, the elected Elkhart County Assessor, Cathy Searcy, will be working to ensure transparency, proper use of tax dollars, efficient service and saving tax-payer dollars. We and many other county government officials look forward to a restored level of professionalism within this sphere of local government."
ORIGINAL STORY:
ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The caucus to fill the positions of the Concord Township Assessor and the Clerk of the Circuit Court was held Thursday evening.
Current County GOP Treasurer, Particia Pickens has been appointed as the next Elkhart County Clerk. Pickens will have to resign from her current position before being sworn in as the new clerk.
However, Concord Township Assessor nominee, Madi Heidt, withdrew her name from consideration, saying the decision came after threats made against her.
"Unfortunately, I won't get to serve the concord township taxpayers any longer due to these issues that have been prolonged, but I look forward to hopefully helping in a different way," said Heidt.
When asked about who made these threats towards her, Heidt responded, "Brad Rogers himself. He told me that... this would be the best decision for me, and this would ensure that I would get insurance for me, myself... my husband and my unborn child. If I was not to run, I would not be applicable for any insurance."