An audience of about 100 first responders lost patience with non-committal Porter County Council at-large candidates Thursday night on whether they support a public safety tax.
Candidates for the North and South District Porter County Board of Commissioners seats, which would not have voting rights on the issue since it’s up to the council, were bold in their support of the tax.
Running nearly three hours, the Candidates’ Night was bogged down by long speeches from those not running for office and a sound system that made it difficult to hear some of the points being made.
Sponsored by the Porter County Public Safety Council, a group of first responders that formed in July, the event sought to clarify candidates’ views on not only the tax but what alternative funding sources they might consider and how they acquire statistics on public safety.
Valparaiso Assistant Fire Chief Jon Daly spoke at length about the concerns and challenges faced by first responders in Porter County and the public they serve. His points ranged from the challenges of retention to the feedback of the public.
Daly said local agencies provide uniforms and training to recruits “sometimes only to watch them move on to other agencies” that can offer $15,000 sign-on bonuses. “Citizens have shared their concerns about distances from ambulance stations throughout the county,” he added.
LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody then gave a pep talk to the candidates, recounting the experience of LaPorte County in April 2022 of increasing its local income tax to fund public safety. “Nobody’s going to lose their office. Nobody’s going to get unelected,” he said.
Dermody said the key to the increase being well received was the county council’s insistence that a roadshow of sorts was conducted and required all the city and town officials to vote on whether or not they supported it before the county council took its vote, which was 6 to 1. “I’m from LaPorte County and I shouldn’t be sticking my nose in Porter County, but we’re all in this together,” he concluded.
When the event finally got to candidates’ views it began Councilwoman Sylvia Graham, D-At-large, who was not in attendance. “More needs to be done before a public safety tax is imposed on the citizens of Porter County,” her prepared statement read. She said an independent study needed to be conducted, but she was not opposed to a PSLIT being voted on in a referendum.
Council at-large candidate Erik Wagner, a Democrat, said he couldn’t commit 100% to support the tax but was not opposed. He said if talk at the Statehouse to cut property taxes by 20% came to fruition, those monies would need to be recouped somehow. He was in favor of any potential PSLIT being shared with the townships. “Absolutely. The townships are part of the county and they need to be supported too,” he said.
Bob DeRuntz, a Democrat also running for a council at-large seat, touted his work as the president of the Duneland Teachers Association in getting teachers there the third-highest salaries in the state. He said he would like to bring that experience to improving compensation for first responders. “If we want great people as first responders in Porter County, we have to pay them a professional salary,” he said.
Councilman Andy Bozak, R-At-large, also offered written responses instead of attending. “I’m still evaluating my position,” his statement read. “I want to ensure all impacts are considered.”
Council at-large candidate Michelle Harris, a Republican, said she would support sharing PSLIT with townships, that first responders need competitive salaries, benefits, and equipment, and “We need a detailed analysis.”
Her time was interrupted by Portage Police Chief Mike Candiano who came up to the moderator’s lectern in a black hoody and ball cap.
“I know I’m good to talk because I know my mayor is in support of this,” he said of Mayor Austin Bonta, who also spoke to the crowd in favor of the tax.
Candiano talked about the troubles his agency is dealing with. “Understand that if we have problems in Portage, you’re going to have problems in the county.”
Porter County Council President Mike Brickner, R-At-large, a 31-year police veteran and former Valparaiso Police Chief, started off building a rapport with the audience.
“I’m sorry for the way things are . . . in this day and age,” he said, before explaining how the county has been using interest from the sale of the hospital to supplement its expenses.
“We’re not willing to replace our address,” said one man in the audience. “We’re willing to replace our politicians.”
South District Board of Commissioners candidate Dan Whitten, a Democrat, bounded onto the stage and said he supported a PST. “It’s a very easy question for me. You would think this was calculus,” he said before telling the crowd he put public safety first in over 10 years as president of the council.
“If you did such a great job, why the need now?” Valparaiso resident Dawn Miller, who didn’t make it out of her primary run for council, wanted to know.
Porter Township Trustee Ed Morales, the Republican running against Whitten, said he’s been dealing with all the issues on the table for the past 16 years and supports the tax. “It’s going to take all of us being in the same room to get this done,” he said.
Dane Lafata, running as a Democrat for the North commission seat, said he supports the tax and wanted to know why the Public Safety Commission started in early 2023 by incumbent Commission President Jim Biggs, R-North, hadn’t made a study available.
He was the first to bring up fire territories and said they needed to be part of the discussion. “We screwed up as a county with the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money. We should have bought five ambulances,” he said.
Biggs ended the evening by saying he supported the tax after 20 years in public service. However, he added, “We didn’t get to be the lowest LIT because we’re quick to make decisions about spending money.”
He also said he was stunned not to see more elected officials from cities, towns, and townships. “The people you answer to,” he told the first responders, “they should have had their (behinds) here too.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
