Feds thwarting interest in Porter County elections?
NWI Times
Jan 14, 2016
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/feds-thwarting-interest-in-porter-county-elections/article_26ad631d-a5af-516c-98ae-1d1cf1cc7c50.html
VALPARAISO — There is a busy election season ahead this year, but you wouldn't know it by the small number of candidates who have filed so far for available Porter County seats.
Filing for county offices in Lake County is also moving slowly.
Other than a few candidates filing during the first two days of eligibility, no one has come forward in the last week for Porter County offices.
Republicans have just one candidate on the ballot and a primary race has yet to take shape for either party.
"I've been here a long time and I don't know what to say about it," said Kathy Kozuszek, who serves as the Democratic director at the Porter County Voter Registration Office.
Porter County Republican Chairman Michael Simpson, who intends to have a full slate of county candidates by the time filing ends at noon Feb. 5, said he believes the hesitation among potential candidates is being fueled by the FBI investigation into local government and the negative attacks on office holders from sources such as the ValpoLies website.
"They don't want to be trashed or terrorized because they volunteered to serve the community," he said.
Porter County Democratic Party Chairman Jeff Chidester, who is running for the North District county commissioner seat now held by Republican John Evans, said he believes there are not more candidates from his party running because the incumbents are seeking re-election and their level of satisfaction is pretty high.
Simpson suggested Democrats took to negative campaigning during the 2015 Portage mayoral race.
Chidester said he felt materials, which reminded voters of the FBI investigation into Portage government, were fair game because of the importance of transparency and ethics in government.
"Unfortunately we need to restore faith in our government," he said.
Simpson said Porter County Republicans will not be doing any negative campaigning under his leadership.
The only countywide seat without a Democratic candidate as of Thursday was that of county treasurer. Chidester said incumbent Democratic Treasurer Michelle Clancy will be filing for re-election.
Republicans had just one candidate to come forward by Thursday — Chuck Harris for county treasurer.
This leaves six seats wide open on the GOP side of the ticket.
"We're still planning on a full ticket," Simpson said.
In Lake County, as of Thursday, just two Republicans -- both running for 2nd Distict Lake County commissioner -- are on the 2016 ballot.
Six Democrats have filed for Lake County coroner, recorder, surveyor, 2nd District commissioner and 3rd District commissioner.
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