Write-in candidate says it’s her turn to serve

LAUREL - June Koester isn’t running for the Laurel City Council because she thinks something drastic needs to change.

She filed as a write-in candidate because she heard there was a need and she wanted to fulfill her civic duty.

“If you live in a community, shouldn’t everybody take a turn to make the community better?” she asked. “I’ve reaped a lot of benefits from the community in the past and I want to be a part of moving the community ahead in the future.”

There’s an open seat on the Laurel City Council after Mark Koch did not file for another term. Jeff Erwin will appear on the ballot for another term on the Laurel City Council.

“I’m just as guilty as everyone else, thinking there’s always somebody - someone else will do it,” Koester said. “It’s my turn to step up to the plate.”

Koester and her husband, Doug, moved to Laurel from Carroll 22 years ago. The move was prompted by Carroll closing its elementary school and the Koesters looking for a school district that fit the needs of their children.

Both Doug and June grew up in Allen and a smaller school district was appealing.

“Doug and I coming from a small school, we wanted our kids to ex perience that, too, and that’s what brought us to Laurel,” she said.

Koester works at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Elementary School as the administrative assistant and she’s been there 19 years.

“Nineteen years, are you kidding me? Where did that time go?” she said.

She’s in her busiest crunch time now as the school year is gearing up to start but is looking forward to focusing on her city council campaign soon.

“Laurel has a lot of things going for it - the new fire hall, the new community building, the school building project - all wonderful things that someone else has taken the time to get going,” she said. “It’s my turn to step up to the plate.”

In other election news, both

Village of Coleridge incumbents George Hefner and Kelly Hammer filed to retain their seats.

In Belden, incumbents Janice Wobbenhorst and Robert Patefield filed to retain their seats while Don Surber declined to run again. Christopher Aldrich is a new candidate for the Belden board.

The incumbent deadline has passed but new candidates for all village boards have until Monday, Aug. 1 to file as a candidate to be placed on the general election ballot. After that, candidates would have to file an affidavit with the county clerk’s office to be a write-in candidate.