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http://heraldargus.com/articles/2010/02/22...86769624651.txt

Primary elections offer competitive matchups

By Alicia Ebaugh
Published: Monday, February 22, 2010 1:11 AM CST
Staff writer

LA PORTE — A few matchups in this year’s primary elections promise to be extremely competitive, with several Democratic races containing three or more contenders.

Nearly 120 La Porte County residents filed for elected county offices before the deadline at noon Friday.

Sheriff

The Democratic primary will pit Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer against Sheriff’s Department Capt. Dick Buell and County Commission president Barbara Huston. Several issues in the race already have emerged, including the traditional appointment of the sheriff’s wife as jail matron and commissary fund spending. Whomever wins the Democratic primary will face Republican Rob Perkins, Walkerton.

Prosecutor

Two Democratic candidates will go head-to-head for the nomination: Prosecutor Rob Beckman and former county attorney Bob Szilagyi. Szilagyi already has taken aim at what he said is Beckman’s “permissive attitude” toward marijuana and “disrespect” for law enforcement. Beckman, who is seeking a third term, denies those claims, saying he is running on his lengthy record of service.

No Republican candidate has filed for the position.

Assessor

With Assessor Carol McDaniel not seeking another term, three Democratic candidates have decided to vie for the position.

McDaniel’s chief deputy assessor, Judy Anderson, Wanatah, is one. Pam Kieft, La Porte, served as Coolspring Township assessor, and Mike Schultz, La Porte, was Center Township assessor until their positions were eliminated by the Indiana Legislature. They now work for the county assessor’s office. The new assessor likely will have to deal with several issues arising from the county’s 2006-pay-2007 property assessment debacle.

No Republican candidate has filed for the position.

County Commissioner, District 1

Incumbent Mike Bohacek, Michiana Shores, is set to face four other Democrats for the nomination: Michigan City Councilman Willie Milsap; former Michigan City mayoral candidate James T. LaRocco; Stacy R. Dudley, Michigan City; and Fred Strefling, Michigan City. Bohacek is seeking his second term in office. Whomever wins this primary will face La Porte County Republican Chairman Keith Harris.

County Council, District 1

Republican Terry Garner, Hanna, is running for a third term in office. He will face Dan Van Schoyck, Union Mills, in the Republican primary. It’s one of only two competitive Republican matchups for major county offices. Whomever wins the nomination will face Democrat Annemarie “Annie” Polan, La Porte.

County Council, District 2

In the largest Democratic primary face-off this year, incumbent Councilman Earl Cunningham has five challengers: Derald J. Borton, Michigan City; Edward R. Kluge, La Porte; Lee Mumaw, La Porte; Anthony “Tony” Rodriguez, Michigan City; and Matthew Sikorski, Michigan City. Cunningham has vocally protested how Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer, another Democrat, spends jail commissary funds. Both are running for a second term in office. Whomever wins the nomination will face Republican Christopher “Michael” Beebe, La Porte.

County Council, District 3

Incumbent Democrat Mark Yagelski, Michigan City, faces Fred Kless, Michigan City, in the primary. Yagelski is running for a third term. No Republican candidate has filed for the position.

County Council, District 4

This is the only seat with a competitive primary for both parties.

Incumbent Rich Mrozinski Jr., La Porte, will face three Democratic challengers: Merle D. Janiszewski, New Carlisle; Lisa Parrett, La Porte; and John P. Shelton, Mill Creek. Two Republicans will face off for their party’s nomination: Cary Kirkham, La Porte, and David B. Peery, La Porte.

Michigan Township assessor

This is the only township assessor position left in La Porte County.

Three Democrats will seek this office in the primary: Scott Bell, Dick Pilcher and Thomas F. Wagner, all of Michigan City.

Michigan Township is the largest township in the county, with more than 18,000 property parcels. It covers all of Michigan City and Trail Creek south to Coolspring Avenue, as well as Long Beach, Pottawattamie Park and Michiana Shores.

Democrats

Sheriff

• Dick Buell, Michigan City.

• Barbara Huston, La Porte.

• Mike Mollenhauer,* La Porte.

County Assessor

• Judy Anderson, Wanatah.

• Pam Kieft, La Porte.

• Michael R. (Mike) Schultz, La Porte.

County Commissioner, District 1

• Mike Bohacek,* Michiana Shores.

• Stacy R. Dudley, Michigan City.

• James T. LaRocco, Michigan City.

• Willie Milsap, Michigan City.

• Fred Strefling, Michigan City.

County Council, District 1

• Annemarie (Annie) Polan, La Porte.

County Council, District 2

• Derald J. Borton, Michigan City.

• Earl Cunningham,* La Porte.

• Edward R. Kluge, La Porte.

• Lee Mumaw, La Porte.

• Anthony “Tony” Rodriguez, Michigan City.

• Matthew Sikorski, Michigan City.

County Council, District 3

• Mark Yagelski,* Michigan City.

• Fred Kless, Michigan City.

County Council, District 4

• Merle D. Janiszewski, New Carlisle.

• Rich Mrozinski, Jr.,* La Porte.

• Lisa Parrett, La Porte.

• John P. Shelton, Mill Creek.

Cass Township Board

• James Irwin Sr., Wanatah.

Center Township Board

• Jack Ott, La Porte.

• Michael Turner, La Porte.

• Mark T. Swanson, La Porte.

Center Township Trustee

• Greg Smith, La Porte.

Coolspring Township Board

• Sharon Metheny, Michigan City.

• Monica A. Prosser, La Porte.

Coolspring Township Trustee

• Dennis Lee Metheny,* Michigan City.

Galena Township Trustee

• Edward S. Hynek,* La Porte.

Hanna Township Board

• Heather Wallace, Hanna.

Hudson Township Board

• Edward E. Bowen, New Carlisle.

• John (Jack) De Groote,* New Carlisle.

• Michele Rizzo, New Carlisle.

Hudson Township Trustee

• Joyce E. Forbes, New Carlisle.

Lincoln Township Board

• Mark Emerick,* Walkerton.

• Steve Holifield, Mill Creek.

• Mark Sabinas, Mill Creek.

• Yolanda Spence,* Walkerton.

Lincoln Township Trustee

• Dennis Christensen, Walkerton.

• John G. McDaniel,* Walkerton.

Michigan Township Assessor

• Scott Bell, Michigan City.

• Dick Pilcher, Michigan City.

• Thomas F. Wagner, Michigan City.

Michigan Township Board

• Sharon J. Gralik,* Trail Creek.

• George Kazmierczak,* Michigan City.

• Gerti H. Miller,* Michigan City.

Michigan Township Trustee

• Rodney Washington, Michigan City.

New Durham Township Board

• Suzanne K. Burns, La Porte.

New Durham Township Trustee

• Phillip J. Hannon,* La Porte.

Pleasant Township Board

• Edward Burek,* La Porte.

• Bette Parker Conroy,* La Porte.

• Tim Kazmierzak, La Porte.

Prairie Township Board

• Phyllis Gorski, LaCrosse.

Springfield Township Board

• Charles Conjalka, La Porte.

• Jerry P. Cooley, La Porte.

Union Township Board

• Lauri Enochs, Kingsford Heights.

• Bettye L. Evans,* Kingsford Heights.

Union Township Trustee

• Sherry Morris,* Union Mills.

Washington Township Board

• Tracey Kae Cummins, La Porte.

Washington Township Trustee

• Loretta Rudolph,* La Porte.

Wills Township Board

• John Cuson,* Mill Creek.

• David N. Nickerson, Rolling Prairie.

• Paul P. Tuszynski,* Mill Creek.

Wills Township Trustee

• Stanley J. Hynek,* Rolling Prairie.

South Central School Board

At-Large

• Edmund P. Castle, Hanna.

• Mark Eaton, Union Mills.

• Steven Koontz, Hanna.

Clinton Township

•Dennis C. Weiss,* Union Mills.

* — Denotes incumbent

Republicans

Sheriff

• Rob J. Perkins, Walkerton.

County Commissioner, District 1

• Keith A. Harris, Michigan City.

County Council, District 1

• Terry L. Garner,* Hanna.

• Dan Van Schoyck, Union Mills.

County Council, District 2

• Christopher M. (Michael) Beebe, La Porte.

County Council, District 4

• Cary Kirkham, La Porte.

• David B. Peery, La Porte.

Cass Township Board

• Joseph Rudolph, Wanatah.

• Eugene L. Shurte, Wanatah.

• Joyce Spoljaric,* Wanatah.

• Jacqueline “Treece” Tharp,* Wanatah.

Cass Township Trustee

• Timothy A. Guse,* Wanatah.

Center Township Board

• Eric Haverstock, La Porte.

Clinton Township Trustee

• Daniel R. Satkoski,* Union Mills.

Coolspring Township Board

• Henry S. Wroblewski, Michigan City.

• Jacqueline W. Wroblewski, Michigan City.

Dewey Township Board

• Paul Malecki,* LaCrosse.

• Sherry Meiss, LaCrosse.

• Aaron Rust, LaCrosse.

Dewey Township Trustee

• Dick (Uncle Nippy) Bucher,* Lacrosse.

Hanna Township Board

• Brian Garner, Hanna.

• Steven Koontz,* Hanna.

• Tony Wallace, Hanna.

Hanna Township Trustee

• Glenn Wallace,* Hanna.

Johnson Township Board

• Charles T. Daube, Walkerton.

• James Keeling,* Walkerton.

• Roy John Williams,* Walkerton.

Johnson Township Trustee

•Katherine Lamborn, Walkerton.

Kankakee Township Board

• Thomas J. Thode, Rolling Prairie.

• Kevin Wheatbrook,* Rolling Prairie.

• Tom Wheatbrook,* Rolling Prairie.

Kankakee Township Trustee

• Steve Lestinsky Jr.,* La Porte.

Lincoln Township Board

• David G. Kaufman,* Walkerton.

Michigan Township Trustee

• Mary L. Lombard,* Trail Creek.

New Durham Township Board

• James Ingram, Westville.

Noble Township Board

• Mary Deering,* Union Mills.

• Glenn A. Schlundt,* Union Mills.

• Wayne V. Schoof,* Union Mills.

Noble Township Trustee

• David Scarborough,* Union Mills.

Pleasant Township Board

• M. Jean Fain,* La Porte.

Pleasant Township Trustee

• Susan Cable,* La Porte.

Prairie Township Trustee

• Norma L. Garner, Hanna.

• *Lynne Shei, Hanna.

Scipio Township Board

• Richard W. Rutz,* La Porte.

• Roger A. Singleton,* La Porte.

• Roger L. Wolff,* La Porte.

Scipio Township Trustee

• Nina R. Sampson,* La Porte.

Springfield Township Board

• Daniel Kilgore,* La Porte.

Springfield Township Trustee

• Howard Conley,* La Porte.

Union Township Trustee

• Melanie Beverly, Kingsford Heights.

Washington Township Board

• Harold Barr,* La Porte.

• Wayne Dipert,* Kingsbury.

* — Denotes incumbent.