QUOTE
Hager loses commission seat to Layton
Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - Incumbent Democratic County Commissioner Bill Hager lost his re-election race to Republican La Porte County Treasurer Ken Layton for the District 3 commissioner seat.
The race wound up extremely close, but Layton held off Hager by earning 22,442 votes (50.28 percent). Hager was right behind with 22,191 votes (49.72 percent).
Hager, 73, served two terms on the county commissioners and based his campaign on its achievements, including modernizing the 911 Center, creating a new county museum and renovating the county home.
Layton, 62, is completing his first term as county treasurer and previously was La Porte County sheriff for two terms and county auditor for two terms. He would not make a statement about the election until all the votes were counted. Layton had the lead throughout the evening.
Democrat Barbara Huston, 61, retained the District 2 County Commissioners seat, earning 25,409 votes (57.72 percent). Republican Ron Schafer, 63, had 18,610 votes (42.28 percent). Schafer had not previously held a political office. He could not be reached at press time.
Huston said this election was different from other races.
"Obama and McCain created competition that made you want to go out there and go for it," Huston said.
She felt a lot of excitement among people she talked to about the issues.
Huston said she's proud of what has been accomplished during her first four-year term and, in the next term, would like to finish the extension of sewer and water lines into the fairgrounds.
Huston was positive about the possibility of working with Layton on the commission in the next four years.
"I think Kenny will be easy to work with," she said. "He's a team player. After we're elected, politics are out. It's more of a cohesive board."
Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.
Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - Incumbent Democratic County Commissioner Bill Hager lost his re-election race to Republican La Porte County Treasurer Ken Layton for the District 3 commissioner seat.
The race wound up extremely close, but Layton held off Hager by earning 22,442 votes (50.28 percent). Hager was right behind with 22,191 votes (49.72 percent).
Hager, 73, served two terms on the county commissioners and based his campaign on its achievements, including modernizing the 911 Center, creating a new county museum and renovating the county home.
Layton, 62, is completing his first term as county treasurer and previously was La Porte County sheriff for two terms and county auditor for two terms. He would not make a statement about the election until all the votes were counted. Layton had the lead throughout the evening.
Democrat Barbara Huston, 61, retained the District 2 County Commissioners seat, earning 25,409 votes (57.72 percent). Republican Ron Schafer, 63, had 18,610 votes (42.28 percent). Schafer had not previously held a political office. He could not be reached at press time.
Huston said this election was different from other races.
"Obama and McCain created competition that made you want to go out there and go for it," Huston said.
She felt a lot of excitement among people she talked to about the issues.
Huston said she's proud of what has been accomplished during her first four-year term and, in the next term, would like to finish the extension of sewer and water lines into the fairgrounds.
Huston was positive about the possibility of working with Layton on the commission in the next four years.
"I think Kenny will be easy to work with," she said. "He's a team player. After we're elected, politics are out. It's more of a cohesive board."
Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.