With only a portion of votes counted by 10 p.m. Tuesday, it was too early to give any preliminary results for Porter County Council at-large, Board of Commissioners, and treasurer races by deadline.
According to online vote totals, 36,201 ballots had been tabulated by last night. Officials reported that more than 40,000 voters cast a ballot during early in-person voting through Saturday and those ballots are not yet included in the results.
“The results posted on the Porter County website are the Election Day results, the final and complete results including Early Vote and Absentee will be posted as soon as possible,” according to a statement on the Porter County Elections and Registration Facebook page. “Our high speed count machine, purchased and designed to count an influx of ballots at a fast pace is not moving as quickly as designed.”
Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, a Republican, is being challenged by Chesterton Town Councilman Dane Lafata for the Northern District seat while the Southern District seat is being contested between Democrat and former Porter County Councilman Dan Whitten and Republican Porter Township Trustee Ed Morales.
Whitten had been out of county government for the past four years and felt he could bring the county back to the strong financial footing he said it enjoyed under his 12 years as council president. Morales was taking a humble and cautious approach to the limited returns.
“You don’t really know where the votes are coming from,” he said of the county’s 44 vote centers. “I think I’ll feel a little bit better at 60(%).”
Biggs, who has been through many county elections, was more optimistic. “Surprised, really,” he said. “Looking at the numbers looks like there is a clear sweep.
“I think it’s a reflection of the people’s frustration with the economy and what’s been going on at the national level,” Biggs said by phone Tuesday night. He doesn’t think an all-Republican board will be any more effective than the current board. “In the last 22 months we’ve accomplished a lot as a board and she’s been right there with us,” he said, referring to working with Blaney. “There’s a lot of experience leaving the room.”
The three at-large seats of the Porter County Council are being contested. All three incumbents, Republicans Mike Brickner and Andy Bozak, and Democrat Sylvia Graham, are seeking reelection.
They’re joined in the field by Republican Michelle Harris, a communications teacher at Valparaiso High School, and Democrats Bob DeRuntz, a history teacher at Chesterton High School, and restaurateur Erik Wagner who previously sat on the council for a year when he was caucused in following the death of Bob Poparad.
Following years of contention over to what extent the Memorial Opera House should be renovated county governors have of late been dabbling in talk of implementing a public safety tax, making adjustments to the draw on the interest from the sale of the hospital, discussing the possibility of tapping into the principal, and hearing frustrations from West Porter Township constituents who want a fire protection territory.
All six candidates have expressed support for a West Porter Township Fire Protection Territory. Differences emerged among the candidates’ views on whether or not to touch the $197 million in principal from the sale of the hospital though such a move is considered a longshot as it requires a unanimous vote from all 10 voting members of the Porter County Foundation which is made up of the entire council and the three members of the Porter County Board of Commissioners.
Earlier in the campaign season none of the candidates were willing to take a stance on whether they would support a public safety tax and the group continued to hedge throughout the season citing the need for more conversation with the public and commissioners as well as more research so no candidates stood out on that issue.
Blaney is running for Porter County Treasurer against Chief Deputy Treasurer Jimmy Albarran, a Republican.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
