The Elkhart County Republican Party wants you to know your candidates. Throughout the run toward the May 2026 Primary Election, we will be posting Q&As with your candidates to help introduce (and re-introduce) them to you – the Republican voter! All Republican candidates in the race are contacted. We continue this series with candidates for Jefferson Township Trustee.
Candidate Bio: Rick Kauffman – I have dedicated my life to public service and to the community of Jefferson Township.
For the past 36 years, I have proudly served our community as a firefighter with the Goshen Fire Department. In 2010, I was elected to the Jefferson Township Advisory Board, where I have worked closely with fellow board members and the current Trustee, Jim Weldy, to help strengthen and support our township.
Today, I am proud to announce that I am running for Jefferson Township Trustee. After serving the past 16 years on the Township Advisory Board, this is the natural next step for me to continue giving back to the community that has given so much to my family and me.
After 36 years of service, I will retire from the Goshen Fire Department in January 2027. Public service has always been a central part of my life, and serving as Township Trustee would allow me to continue my commitment to helping the residents of Jefferson Township.
During my time on the Township Advisory Board, I have focused on the safety and well-being of our residents. I was proud to advocate for the implementation of a tornado siren alert system to better protect our community during severe weather events. Ensuring families receive timely warnings and added peace of mind is exactly the kind of practical leadership our township deserves.
My wife, Laura, and I have called Jefferson Township home for the past 23 years. We have enjoyed watching our daughters, Mackenzie and Jordan, grow up and attend school here. This community has played an important role in shaping our family’s life, and I care deeply about its future.
I have also remained dedicated to preserving the natural resources of our township through conservation efforts, including planting more than 8,000 trees through the Conservation Reserve Program.
From responding to emergencies as a firefighter to helping guide responsible decisions on the Township Advisory Board, my focus has always been on protecting, serving, and strengthening the Goshen community.
If you’re looking for a leader with deep local roots, proven experience, and a lifelong commitment to public service, I humbly ask for your support on Election Day.
Vote Rick E. Kauffman for Jefferson Township Trustee.
Why did you decide to seek election/re-election to this office? After serving for the past 16 years on the Jefferson Township Advisory Board, I believe running for Trustee is the natural next step in my continued service to our community. I care deeply about Jefferson Township and want to ensure it continues to be a safe, well-managed, and supportive place for our residents. This role allows me to continue giving back to the community that has given so much to my family.
What do you feel are the main issues facing this office heading into your next potential term? One of the biggest challenges facing the township is maintaining the level of essential services our residents depend on while working within responsible budget limits. This includes ensuring continued support for Fire and EMS services, maintaining our township cemeteries, and providing township assistance for residents who may be facing financial hardship. It is important that we continue delivering these critical services while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars and planning responsibly for the future of Jefferson Township.
What are some elements of this job that the public may not know about? Many residents may not realize how many responsibilities fall under the Township Trustee’s office. The Trustee helps fund Fire and EMS services for the township, oversees and maintains township cemeteries, and monitors systems such as local severe weather alert sirens.
The office also provides township assistance for residents facing financial hardship. This can include emergency help with rent or mortgage payments, utility assistance, and burial assistance for indigent residents. These programs are essential in helping neighbors through difficult times.
Why have you decided to seek election as a Republican candidate and why are those values important to you? My values align with the Republican Party’s focus on fiscal responsibility, limited government, and strong local leadership. I believe in carefully managing taxpayer dollars, maintaining transparency, and ensuring that township government operates efficiently while meeting the needs of our residents. These principles are important to me because they help ensure that our township remains financially responsible while continuing to provide the services our community relies on.
How can voters get in touch with you and stay updated on your campaign? Voters can stay updated on my campaign and contact me through my Facebook page, Rick E. Kauffman for Trustee, where I will be sharing campaign updates, events, and information about the issues facing Jefferson Township. Residents are also welcome to reach out directly by email at [email protected]. Hearing from members of our community is important to me, and I encourage voters to stay engaged throughout the campaign.
Candidate Bio: Alan Wise – I am a thirty year resident of Jefferson Township where my wife Patty and I raised four daughters we also have seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
I Retired from NIPSCO in 2021 with twenty years in gas service including sixteen years in the field and four years in field management.
While at NIPSCO I received my bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana Weslyan University
My wife Patty and I have been married forty-five years, and we both serve as deacons in our church as well as leading the senior ministry together. I am also a leader in a men’s ministry at our church.
As a servant leader I care deeply about Jefferson Township and since I am retired, I have the time to dedicate to serving the people who live here.
Why did you decide to seek election/re-election to this office? With a degree in accounting, a love for serving others, and a heart for servant leadership, I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to open and have been praying for the chance to serve others as the trustee of Jefferson township. I attend church with another trustee from a neighboring township and the more I talked to him and learned how much he can serve the people of his township when they need help, the more my heart was drawn to running for this position. My heart is in this and if the Lord will have me, I am ready to serve the people of Jefferson township.
What do you feel are the main issues facing this office heading into your next potential term? The first issue is transparency of the township trustee and trustee board; I would like to see us live stream all our public meetings; we are accountable to the taxpayers of this township and should make every effort to get information to them about our activities and decisions. Good leaders’ welcome transparency, accountability, and opportunities to improve, find opportunities to save money, and strengthen public trust through transparency. My goal is simple: keep strong practices in place and continue improving wherever we can.
The second item is public education. I am surprised by the number of people I meet who do not even know what the trustee does, the services they offer, and that we even have a trustee board, if elected I will give the taxpayers a front row seat by explaining how our township government operates and where their money is being spent.
The third issue is better funding of our Fire and EMS in Jefferson township, as our township population continues to grow it is more imperative than ever to have our emergency services funded and equipped to keep up with our growth. Though I am not a fireman myself, in my years at NIPSCO I responded to thousands of emergency calls and know the importance of having the best working equipment and training possible.
What are some elements of this job that the public may not know about? Duties of Fence Viewer to settle disputes over property lines and livestock.
Along with offering assistance with bill relief, the trustee may pay for insulin for those in need who cannot afford it.
No charge notary public services
Why have you decided to seek election as a Republican candidate and why are those values important to you? As a born-again Christian I have always found the Republican party more closely represents the biblical values I hold dear and that Jesus portrays. I try every day to live by the values my savior imparts to me and serving others selflessly are the principles I stand on, these are where I hold the line!
How can voters get in touch with you and stay updated on your campaign?
Facebook.com – Alan Wise For Jefferson Township Trustee
