GOSHEN — Three weeks into a new term on the Goshen City Council, Tom Stump filed this morning his candidacy for a seat on the Elkhart County Council.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved in county politics,” the Republican president of the city council said. “I think I could be effective in the county relaying Goshen’s interests and the other cities as well. Goshen, Elkhart, Nappanee and the smaller towns, we’re part of the county, too,” Stump said.

The biggest issue that prompted his run, he said, was friction between county and Goshen leaders on where C.R. 17 should end and what should be done to address growing traffic problems on Goshen’s south side. “I didn’t feel Goshen was getting a good shake there,” Stump said.

Even if he’s elected to the county seat, “I don’t want people to think I’m abandoning Goshen.” He said he’d like to continue to serve on the Goshen Redevelopment Commission.

If he’s elected to the county council, he’ll leave his seat on the city council. His replacement for the last three years of this term would be chosen by Republican precinct committeemen in a caucus.

“There are some young Republicans very capable of taking over my seat,” Stump said.