QUOTE
18 vie for four County Council seats
By Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
With 18 County Council candidates vying for four seats, Tuesday’s primary election will mark the end of the road for most, but a milestone for others who win their party’s nomination.
The only Republican contests in this primary are for council seats in districts 1 and 4. Democrats face opponents in three of the four council seats on the ballot.
The County Council has authority to view or review fiscal matters, determine proper policy and set priorities for the allocation and expenditure of county funds. It also authorizes the county’s budget each year. Council members are paid about $16,000 per year, and the president receives an additional $1,000 per year. They meet the fourth Monday of every month at the county annex in La Porte and participate in various workshops and other public events.
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. Garner said he is focused on keeping county budgets down, with all departments running as efficiently as possible, as well as creating business growth throughout the county. Van Schoyck said, as a councilman, he would ask department heads for their ideas on how to operate more efficiently.
Whoever wins the nomination will face Democrat Annemarie “Annie” Polan, La Porte, who is running unopposed in the primary.
This council member represents Cass, Clinton, Dewey, Hanna, New Durham-Westville, Noble and Prairie townships, as well as parts of Center, Coolspring and Scipio townships.
District 2
In the Democratic primary face-off with the most contestants 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, who is running for a second term, has vocally protested how Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer, another Democrat, spends jail commissary funds. He also supported a hiring freeze in the county, and led the avoidance of a costly special Regional Transit Authority vote last November. Borton and Kluge support exploring more ways to cut county budgets, and Sikorski would create a council advisory committee with township trustees to better connect with residents. Mumaw wants to help prepare the county for the possibility of further reducing its spending as the state makes property tax caps permanent. Rodriguez said he would use his experience in economic development to help attract new jobs and create more opportunities for existing businesses.
Whoever wins the nomination will face Republican Christopher “Michael” Beebe, La Porte, who is unopposed in the primary.
This council member represents Coolspring and Springfield townships, as well as parts of Center and Michigan townships.
District 3
Incumbent Democrat Mark Yagelski, Michigan City, who is the council’s president this year, faces Fred Kless, Michigan City, in the primary. Yagelski is seeking a third term. He touts his many accomplishments in economic development and technology for the county over the past eight years, as well as his leadership in reducing the county’s budget seven years in a row. Kless said he wants to stop department heads from coming back for money not already in their budgets.
No Republican candidate has filed.
This council member represents parts of Coolspring, Michigan and New Durham townships.
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.
Mrozinski, an Air Force veteran, points to accomplishments over the past three years for local military vets, as well as his voting record against unnecessary spending. Janiszewski said that, as councilman, he would cut the pay of elected officials, including his own. Parrett and Shelton both want to foster more cooperation among county officials. Kirkham thinks the county should work on consolidating services and offices, and Peery wants to lessen the tax burden on residents.
This council member represents Galena, Hudson, Johnson, Kankakee, Lincoln, Union, Washington and Wills townships, and parts of Center and Scipio townships.
By Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
With 18 County Council candidates vying for four seats, Tuesday’s primary election will mark the end of the road for most, but a milestone for others who win their party’s nomination.
The only Republican contests in this primary are for council seats in districts 1 and 4. Democrats face opponents in three of the four council seats on the ballot.
The County Council has authority to view or review fiscal matters, determine proper policy and set priorities for the allocation and expenditure of county funds. It also authorizes the county’s budget each year. Council members are paid about $16,000 per year, and the president receives an additional $1,000 per year. They meet the fourth Monday of every month at the county annex in La Porte and participate in various workshops and other public events.
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. Garner said he is focused on keeping county budgets down, with all departments running as efficiently as possible, as well as creating business growth throughout the county. Van Schoyck said, as a councilman, he would ask department heads for their ideas on how to operate more efficiently.
Whoever wins the nomination will face Democrat Annemarie “Annie” Polan, La Porte, who is running unopposed in the primary.
This council member represents Cass, Clinton, Dewey, Hanna, New Durham-Westville, Noble and Prairie townships, as well as parts of Center, Coolspring and Scipio townships.
District 2
In the Democratic primary face-off with the most contestants 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, who is running for a second term, has vocally protested how Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer, another Democrat, spends jail commissary funds. He also supported a hiring freeze in the county, and led the avoidance of a costly special Regional Transit Authority vote last November. Borton and Kluge support exploring more ways to cut county budgets, and Sikorski would create a council advisory committee with township trustees to better connect with residents. Mumaw wants to help prepare the county for the possibility of further reducing its spending as the state makes property tax caps permanent. Rodriguez said he would use his experience in economic development to help attract new jobs and create more opportunities for existing businesses.
Whoever wins the nomination will face Republican Christopher “Michael” Beebe, La Porte, who is unopposed in the primary.
This council member represents Coolspring and Springfield townships, as well as parts of Center and Michigan townships.
District 3
Incumbent Democrat Mark Yagelski, Michigan City, who is the council’s president this year, faces Fred Kless, Michigan City, in the primary. Yagelski is seeking a third term. He touts his many accomplishments in economic development and technology for the county over the past eight years, as well as his leadership in reducing the county’s budget seven years in a row. Kless said he wants to stop department heads from coming back for money not already in their budgets.
No Republican candidate has filed.
This council member represents parts of Coolspring, Michigan and New Durham townships.
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.
Mrozinski, an Air Force veteran, points to accomplishments over the past three years for local military vets, as well as his voting record against unnecessary spending. Janiszewski said that, as councilman, he would cut the pay of elected officials, including his own. Parrett and Shelton both want to foster more cooperation among county officials. Kirkham thinks the county should work on consolidating services and offices, and Peery wants to lessen the tax burden on residents.
This council member represents Galena, Hudson, Johnson, Kankakee, Lincoln, Union, Washington and Wills townships, and parts of Center and Scipio townships.