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Cass County Democrats announce candidates for November 2020 ballot

Last Updated on July 3, 2020 by Cass County Democrats

SOURCE: News release from Cass County Democrats

The Cass County Democrats have appointed five additional candidates to the November 2020 ballot.

“With a growing local demand for county government transparency and community planning, we have candidates who want to be a part of the solution to make things better,” said Lita Rouser, Cass County Democrat Chair. “Voters in Cass County now have a choice. They can stay with the same party who initiated our current unrest or they can go with candidates who walk side by side with them in advocating for Cass County’s prosperity. We look forward to a vigorous debate about Cass County’s future and who is best to lead it.”

ANDREW VINSON, Democrat candidate for Cass County Surveyor

Andrew Vinson is a resident of Cass County since 2009. He was born and raised in southern Indiana and attended College in Florence, South Carolina.

Andrew currently owns and operates two businesses in Logansport, Vinson’s Cleaning Service and Two Rivers Realty LLC. He also owned and operated Latte On A Leash. As a business owner he has been an active member of the Cass County community and now he is ready to put his organization and leadership skills to work for the people of Cass County.

Andrew and his spouse adopted their son Henry Vinson in 2018 after being his foster parents since 2016. Henry is the circle of his lives. They spend a lot of time together as a family.

Andrew wants to be a part of a leadership team that creates a Cass County where his son and others want to stay and raise families.

KENNY REESE, Democrat Candidate for Cass County Commissioner District 1

Kenny Reese has called Cass County home for 35 years. He chose Cass County for its geographic position and rural beauty. As the first-generation member in his family to locate in Cass County, he put down roots and his family is now into its fourth generation.

Kenny was born central Pennsylvania and later moved with his family to White County, Indiana. He’s a North White High School graduate and high school, he entered the United States Air Force and became an electronics technician working on missile systems. After four years of service, he received an honorable discharge and moved back to Indiana. Kenny then completed an apprenticeship with the IBEW Local #668 in Lafayette.

Over the last several years, Kenny has worked his trade predominately in Cass and surrounding counites, including Applebee’s, Auto Zone, Bob Evans, Memorial Hospital, and Woodbridge. He also been a troubleshooter for local factories, such as Matthew Warren, A Raymond Tinnerman, Tyson, Pharos Press, Orion Safety Products, Kent Feeds, ADM, and others.

Kenny retired from the IBEW after 40 years of service and is currently employed as electrical manager for BHJ/USA, an internationally owned pet food processing company with a local facility located within the Logansport Cass County industrial park.

“I think it important/imperative to step up, have a voice, and do the very best we can to uphold values we hold dear”, Reese stated.

As a lifelong blue-collar citizen, Kenny see a job that needs done and is will to step up and make his best effort serving the citizens of Cass County.

Along with his wife Connie, they have two children, six grandkids, and a great-grandson.

VICKI BYRD, Democrat candidate for Cass County Commissioner District 2

Vicki Byrd is a lifelong resident of Cass County. After graduating from Logansport High School, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from DePauw University and a Master of Science in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

In her current position since 2006, she serves as vice president of planning and development at Logansport Memorial Hospital where she is responsible for planning (including project development and strategic planning), marketing, physician recruitment, Logansport Memorial Hospital Foundation, volunteers, concierge services, and customer experience. She also serves as a community liaison representing the hospital and promoting community health and wellness initiatives.

Previously, she had served as vice president of operations for the North Central Indiana Private Industry Council and president/CEO of Workforce Development Strategies. She is a past president of the Logansport Rotary Club and the United Way of Cass County and most recently served as United Way Campaign Chair in 2018. In addition, she serves as a board member and secretary of the Logansport Parks & Recreation Foundation and as a member of the Complete Streets Committee and Logansport Re-Imagined and has recently been named to the Board of Trustees for Ivy Tech Community College, Kokomo Campus. In 2014, she was named the Logansport Cass County Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year; in 2015, she received the Arden Cramer Humanitarian Award and was honored as one of six women who were named Women in Business 2018.

She and her husband, William live in Logansport. They have two grown daughters, Emily Byrd Metheny and Rachel Byrd Huffman and six grandchildren. Her husband Bill is retired from Logansport Community School Corporation and they are members of First United Methodist Church in Logansport. She is the daughter of the late John E. Vernon and Rosemary Vernon.

Her father, John Vernon served on the Logansport City Council and was the Mount Hope Cemetery Sexton.

EMILY SAWYER, Democrat candidate for Cass County Council At Large

Emily Sawyer was born and raised in Cass County. She graduated from Logansport High School and completed a culinary program at Ivy Tech Community College.

She was a cook for Jefferson Street BBQ and Rabble Rousers Farm to Truck. She currently works for the deli department at Martin’s Supermarket.

She is an avid patron of the local arts and music community and a supporter of locally grown foods from the farmers markets and producers.

Emily stated, “My primary concern Is preventing WSP from poisoning our community. Not just in Cass County but all the communities around us.  I am also concerned about the looming economic collapse and food security. Before COVID, one in five Cass County children didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. With the recent job losses, this is likely to get worse.”

She and her husband James reside on Logansport with their dog fur baby, Thompson.

ANGIE ZECK, Democrat candidate for Cass County Coroner

Angie Zeck has lived in Cass County her entire life. She is a proud graduate of Logansport High School and received her Associate Degree in Science from Indiana University Kokomo. Three years ago, Angie
earned her Medicolegal Investigator Certification.

For the past 19 years, Angie has been a practicing nurse, with the last 13 years as a registered nurse.

Utilizing her nursing experience and her Medicolegal Investigator Certification, Angie has served as a Deputy Coroner with the Cass County Coroner’s Department since early 2017. Angie along with her husband, Rod Zeck, own and operate Comfort Keepers in Logansport and Evansville and Elite Home Nursing Care. As a community service, Angie has volunteered her time to help the Cass County Health Department with COVID-19 testing.

As part of being a Deputy Coroner, Angie serves on the Cass County Child Fatality Review Board. She has specialized training in Sudden Unexplained Infant Death/Sudden Death in the Young, analyzing 911 homicide calls, gunshot wound evaluation and completed an extensive externship with Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Sozio.

Rod and Angie live in the Galveston/Young America area. They have eight children, Kristi (Phil) Gurule, Colton (Laura) Zeck, Kensi (Travis) Yokum, Kassi Zeck (fiancé Austin Clem), Conner Zeck, Caden Zeck, Tyler Gaumer and Brenton Gaumer and seven grandchildren. Besides Comfort Keepers, Rod owns and operates Zeck & Son’s Excavating and is the Chief Deputy Coroner for the Cass County Coroner’s Department. Angie and Rod are members of Crossroads Community Church in Kokomo. Angie is the youngest of four- Rob (Angie) McMinn, Scott (Mandi) McMinn and Jill McMinn. Angie is the daughter of Nancy Ashba and Larry McCarter.

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