Series of three election debates slated in Cloverdale

Cloverdale resident Delight Coy has stood in her voting booth and not known who to vote for on the town council more times than she'd like to admit.

But the five-member board has been so divisive in recent years, she said, that she and neighbor Gloria Bergstrom decided the stakes were too high for Cloverdale voters to not know their candidates.

So, in the interest of giving residents a chance to get to learn about their prospective board members and clerk-treasurer, the two ladies have organized a pair of moderated forums and invited everyone running for office in the town.

The forums, which will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 and Oct. 23 in the Stardust Hills Clubhouse, bring to three the number of organized chances for voters to meet the people running for office

The Greencastle League of Women's Voters is partnering with the BannerGraphic and WREB to host a third debate Oct. 30.

Coy is a former Republican precinct worker in Cloverdale, though she said her only interest now is to inform the town's voters.

There is stiff competition for the five slots open in the Nov. 6 election.

Six people filed to run for two open at-large town council seats: Stephen D. Caulkins, Phyliss J. Gaddis, Terry S. Puffer, Charlie Schenk, Tom Tomlinson and Joseph L. Zimmerman.

Current town council member Glen Vickroy is running against Jerry V. Acrea and Daniel Inlow for the Ward One seat.

Incumbent John Davis will face rival and current board president Donald E. Sublett.

For the first time in her 12-year tenure as Clerk-Treasurer, Patti Truax faces an opponent. Cathleen Monaco filed her candidacy for the job early this summer.

And the candidates seem eager to meet their public.

For the forum next week, every candidate except Zimmerman responded to Bergstrom's request for attendance. Davis said he would think about showing up and Truax said she couldn't attend next week's meet-and-greet, through she is planning to be at the Oct. 27 event, Bergstrom said.

Coy is working hard to make sure that the forums are civil and informative, she said. Each candidate will get a chance to talk about his or her platform and background.

Tom Kaczmarek, a DePauw University senior majoring in political science, will moderate the discussion.

All questions must be submitted in writing to Kaczmarek, who will relay the appropriate ones to the candidates.

Kaczmarek said he volunteered for the job because he thought it would provide him with a unique opportunity to see the political process on a small-scale.

Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputy Tom Helmer volunteered to provide security for the October debate, though Coy said she is still looking for a law enforcement officer to attend next week's event.