Caucus Chooses Yaprak As New Mentone Clerk-Treasurer
Caucus Chooses Yaprak As New Mentone Clerk-Treasurer
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Caucus Chooses Yaprak As New Mentone Clerk-TreasurerMENTONE - Both women who filed for the Mentone clerk-treasurer position told the Republican caucus Tuesday that they’ve planted their roots in the southern Kosciusko County town.
Both also have said they wanted to be a part of the community and to give back.
In the end, only one could be chosen and precinct committeemen Ann Wiesehan and Ed Rock selected Amanda Yaprak over Tammy Stoneburner.
Yaprak was sworn in after the caucus and begins her duties immediately as Janick Norris had resigned as clerk-treasurer effective April 22. Norris was selected as the Republican candidate for clerk-treasurer during a town convention on Aug. 21, 2019, beating out Stoneburner. Norris then won the general election in November 2019. Norris replaced Barb Ross, who had served as clerk-treasurer for almost 30 years.
Each candidate was given 3 minutes to address the two-person caucus.
In her comments, Yaprak - whose last name rhymes with Aflac - said she is a 2002 Tippecanoe Valley High School graduate. After high school, she joined the U.S. Air Force for six years but kept coming back to Mentone.
“So this is where I planted my roots,” Yaprak said. “I have an extensive background in banking, nonprofits, I’ve worked with manufacturing and now I would like to add the clerk-treasurer position to that.”
She has two boys. She is the committee chair of the Burket Troop 715 Boy Scouts and her oldest son is a future Eagle Scout.
She used her G.I. Bill to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance.
For those who want to know about who she is and her personality and values, Yaprak said, “I am self-motivated. If there is a task that needs to be streamlined, I will jump right on it, no questions asked. If you need somebody positive, there’s nothing more contagious than a positive attitude and I’m very positive. I’m focused on customer service and I love Mentone. I can’t talk long enough about this small community.”
As for her values, Yaprak said she loves her family and her neighbors.
After being elected to the clerk-treasurer position, she said, “I’m excited and ready to get started. Start streamlining and work with a good set of people.”
The Mentone Town Council meets at 6:30 p.m. today.
