Wells GOP Caucus to pick new Chairman

On Monday, March 15, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. at GOP Headquarters in Bluffton, the new Wells Co GOP Chairman will be selected by the party's precinct (and vice) committeemen. The event is open to the public.

Josh Barkley of Ossian is one of three candidates seeking the chair. We appreciate Josh mentioning our group in his press release:

Barkley declares bid for Republican Party chairman

FOR RELEASE March 12, 2010
OSSIAN, IN—Ossian Town Councilman Josh Barkley has filed a letter of intent to become the chairman of the Wells County Republican Party.

To become chairman, Barkley must be elected by the precinct committeemen and vice committeemen in a caucus to be held at GOP headquarters at 6 p.m. on March 15. The caucus is open to the public.

“I have a passion for working with existing and future leaders to build on the strong foundation of the Republican Party in Wells County,” Barkley said. “My goal is to continue cultivating relationships with residents of our county and to encourage them to become more involved in government and the political process at the local, state and federal levels.”

Barkley, 29, is a lifelong resident of Ossian. He has worked for Barkley Builders, a family-owned-and-operated residential construction company, for 11 years. He also co-owns Barkley Properties, a residential rental company. Both businesses are based in Ossian, and Barkley Builders is a member of the Wells County Chamber of Commerce.

As a member of the Ossian Town Council, Barkley serves on the Wells County Economic Development Council, Ossian Storm Water Committee and Ossian Days Committee.

Barkley, one of the founding members of the Young Republicans of Wells County, serves as the chair of the Special Events Committee. His committee has planned several events including a YR kickoff cookout with the Central Committee, a pancake breakfast fundraiser and a Fort Wayne Komets game outing hosted by Indiana Senate candidate Jim Banks. Additionally, Barkley coordinated with U.S. Senate candidates Don Bates Jr., Dan Dumezich and Marlin Stutzman to host YR meet-and-greet events.

A graduate of Norwell High School, Barkley also has earned an Associate of Science degree in Construction Management from Ivy Tech Community College. He will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management and Business Administration from Huntington University in May. He is a member of the Pinnacle Honor Society, an organization that recognizes “outstanding adult students.”

He and his wife, Heather, are members of Life Church Huntington, a 5-year-old church plant from Life Church in Bluffton. The Barkleys serve on the leadership and teaching teams. They also have led and participated in mission trips to Guatemala.

At the end of the month, Barkley will launch an internet radio talk show called “Faith & Politics with Josh Barkley” on www.wellscountyvoice.com.

“The tagline for the show is ‘God. Government. Guts.’ because I believe it takes guts to discuss or be involved in faith or politics,” Barkley said. “My hope is that ‘Faith & Politics’ will show that these two areas have a relationship with each other and should not be considered taboo topics in a public setting.”

If elected chairman of the Wells County Republican Party, Barkley plans to use his skills with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as tools to advance the party.

“I have networked with leaders of Young Republican groups and Central Committees from across Indiana to gain knowledge about how their organizations function,” Barkley said. “I believe these groups offer fresh ideas and perspectives that will strengthen the Republican Party in Wells County.”

Barkley cited relationships with party leaders in Wells, Huntington, Allen, Whitley, Blackford, LaGrange, Miami and St. Joseph counties.

Barkley plans to network outside of the party as well.

“I hope to continue working with other groups such as the 6th District Constitutional Patriots in Bluffton,” he said. “These groups share our conservative ideals, and they bring issues to light that need to be addressed by our party.”

In addition, Barkley said he would make community service projects a part of the Central Committee’s agenda.

“I have lived in Wells County all of my life,” Barkley said. “This community is my home, and as a Christian I strongly believe in helping my neighbor. I think that as a party we have a responsibility not only to support candidates but to lend a hand to one another.”
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