02082019 - News Article - Snyder doesn't file for re-election in Portage; four Dems to battle in primary

Snyder doesn't file for re-election in Portage; four Dems to battle in primary
Chicago Tribune
February 08, 2019
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-porter-filing-ends-st-0209-story.html

Municipal primaries across Porter County took full shape Friday with the closing of filings at noon, with multiple contested races in Valparaiso and Portage, particularly for the Democratic Party.

Noticeably absent among the names on the ballots was Portage Mayor James Snyder, a Republican now in his second term and on trial in U.S. District Court in Hammond on bribery and other charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

“I have no comment because we never had a discussion (about whether Snyder would file),” said Michael Simpson, chair of the Porter County Republican Party.

Portage Councilman John Cannon is the only Republican to file for the mayor’s office in the primary.

The Portage Democrat races include mayor, with Leo Hatch, Sue Lynch, Andy Maletta and Christopher Stidham; clerk-treasurer, with Elizabeth Modesto and Nina Rivas; council at-large, with voters selecting two candidates from a choice of Ferdinand Alvarez, Mark Oprisko, Debbie Podgorski, and Steve Sonaty; Second District on the city council, with Patrick Clem and Frank O’Reilly; and Fourth District, Robert Hallmen and Brian Gulley.

In Valparaiso, Republicans have contested races for Third District on the Valparaiso City Council, between Walter Dougherty and Casey Schmidt, and Fourth District on the Portage City Council, between Jerry Butler and William Fekete.

“I’m very excited about our slate of candidates across the county,” Simpson said. “We have good people and good candidates. They intend to run vigorous campaigns and let people know about it.”

In Valparaiso, contested Dem primary races are mayor, Bill Durnell and Debora Porter; council at-large, with voters selecting two candidates from a choice of Heath Carter, Todd Etzler and Elizabeth Wuerffel; and Third District, Kevin Cornett and Drew Wenger.

Porter County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Chidester said he doesn’t fear contested primary races.

“I think it gives people the chance to present their vision of the city or town,” he said. “That gives voters a clear choice of how they want to see their city go.”

Contested Democrat races in Valparaiso are a positive sign, Chidester said.

“For years, it was a one-sided event and to me, that’s bad government,” he said, adding a fuller ballot allows different viewpoints. “For Valparaiso, this is good news for Democrats, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Noon Monday is the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the ballot; noon Feb. 15 is the deadline for challenging a candidacy.

A list of candidates who filed in municipal elections across the county can be found under “elections” at www.porterco.org.