Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Syracuse Town Council at-large member Larry Siegel will not be seeking re-election this year after all.
In an announcement via email Monday night, he stated, “It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve the people of the town of Syracuse. Thank you for the opportunity and thank you for your support. Syracuse has a wonderful past and we have accomplished a lot. But it is time to turn this community over to the future.
“With my registration for candidacy, I encouraged our younger citizens to realize that running for and serving on the Syracuse Town Council is a way that they can impact and change this part of their world. Last week that happened, hence my withdrawal.”
Siegel had filed for re-election in the first week of the filing deadline. Others who have since filed for the two at-large seats on the Syracuse Town Council to date include Republicans Matthew Goodnight, David Rosenberry and Gregory Scott Abbs and Democrat Yesenia “Jessie” Vetor.
Longtime Syracuse Town Council at-large member Paul Stoelting also did not seek re-election this year after more than 28 years.
In his email Monday, Siegel endorsed Abbs, saying, “Greg Abbs registered to run for Syracuse Town Council. Greg grew up in Syracuse, graduated from Wawasee High School, then went on to graduate from Purdue University.
“Greg’s family has a long history of volunteerism and public service in Syracuse. Some may know Greg’s wife Kristin for serving on the Syracuse park board, and many have benefitted from the work of his late father Scott Abbs with wife Kathy’s countless hours of community service. I believe Greg to be of the same mold.
“Greg has a 21-year-old adult child that graduated from the Wawasee School system and is currently a senior at Purdue University. Greg also has a child in Wawasee Middle School and one in Elementary School. Greg is in his early forties with enough life experience to be a solid contributing council member and will serve with the best future of Syracuse in mind.”
Siegel concluded his statement by saying, “Rather than running again myself, I will be supporting Greg Abbs as part of the next generation, and hope that you will do the same.”
Candidate filing began Jan. 7 and ends at noon Friday, Feb. 6.
