Weirick wins GOP nomination for commissioner
May 7—GOSHEN — Elkhart County Commissioner District 3 incumbent Suzie Weirick is the Republican candidate for this year's General Election. If she wins in the fall, it'll be her third term as a commissioner. That's likely right now, as she's running unopposed.
"I am grateful to the voters of Elkhart County for recognizing my love of our community. I look forward to moving Elkhart County forward into the future as a strong conservative, and voice of the people," campaign manager Carol McDowell said in a statement on behalf of Weirick Tuesday night. "I thank all the people who worked so hard for me, and tomorrow morning I'm back on the job."
McDowell said, for Weirick, it's all about family, and Weirick chose to spend election night with her family, making her unavailable for comment.
Her contender in the primary was Certified Public Accountant Steven R. Boussom, who has owned his own firm for 20 years. Boussom commented on the excessive use of tax incremental financing, said he would take a strong look at zoning and tax breaks, and said he would not make new laws for the sake of law-making but seek to manage the county government better than his predecessor.
Weirick has been in office since 2016. She serves on several boards in her position as a commissioner, currently including Elkhart Economic Development Corporation, Michiana Area Council on Governance, Elkhart Emergency Management Advisory Board, South Bend Elkhart Ivy Tech Board of Trustees; and is a Vibrant Communities co-chairperson.
Weirick has said that addressing opportunities for workforce development will be a primary goal for her, as well as supporting business recruitment and creating new opportunities through solid infrastructure and a well-trained workforce. She's also concerned about the lack of housing and would like to leverage TIF funds to help support developments. Mental health was also identified as a top priority of hers, and partnerships supported by the government, she said, are part of the solution.
Weirick received 8,884 votes to Boussom's 6,114.
Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.
