As the first week of candidate filing wound down Friday afternoon, the May primary ballot was shaping up with a mix familiar faces and newcomers.
Lake County
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, filed to run for re-election. Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green has indicated her desire to challenge Mrvan again — she lost in 2022 — but so far she hasn’t filed.
On the Democratic side, several of the county-level offices already have multiple candidates, while apart from two incumbent county councilman, no Republicans are in the running for county offices.
Current Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. is term-limited, so four candidates have filed already to succeed him: St. John Police Chief Steve Flores, Lake County Deputy Police Chief Ed Jenkins, retired ATF agent Jason Gore, and Lake County Officer Maria Garcia Trajkovich.
Incumbent Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter, Circuit Court Clerk Mike Brown, Assessor LaTonya Spearman, Treasurer John Petalas, and Auditor Peggy Holinga Katona — all Democrats — filed to run for re-election. Recorder Gina Pimentel has filed to challenge Katona in the auditor’s race.
Lake County Council members Christine Cid, D-East Chicago; Ron Brewer, D-Gary; Randy Niemeyer, R-Cedar Lake; and Pete Lindemulder, R-Schererville, filled for re-election. Gary City Councilman Darren Washington filed to challenge Brewer for his 2nd District seat. Democrats Scott E. Miller and Marlinda Tyson Haymon filed to run in the 1st District and 3rd District, respectively.
Niemeyer told the Post-Tribune earlier this week that the Republicans will have a better ballot than last time, but so far, it’s not quite a full slate.
“In today’s political environment, the main concern is social media and the attacks that people level. I have a pretty thick skin, so it doesn’t bother me, but I get it,” he said. “We should be able to be of a different political philosophy and still be able to shake hands.”
Democrat Kyle Allen filed for re-election to his Commissioner seat, representing District 1.
Democrat Scott Houldieson, a longtime UAW organizer, filed to run for the District 1 State Senate seat, currently held by Republican Dan Dernulc, R-Highland. Dernulc hasn’t yet filed to run for re-election.
In State Representative races, incumbent Reps. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond; Vernon Smith, D-Gary; and Hal Slager, R-Schererville have filed. Democrats Tyler Thomas Bridges and Nick Neal have filed to run in Districts 11 and 19, respectively.
Various township races are starting to fill up as well.
Calumet Township Trustee Tai Adkins and Assessor Jackie Collins are both seeking election to their first full terms. Adkins was elected via caucus in January 2025 after former trustee Kim Robinson plead guilty to wire fraud, while Collins won a caucus following the death of Assessor Cozey Weatherspoon in February 2024.
Incumbents Hobart Township Trustee Fred Williams, Hobart Township Assessor Lino Maggio, North Township Trustee Adrian Santos, Ross Township Trustee Eric A. Blackmon Sr., Ross Township Assessor Angela Guernsey — all Democrats — are running for re-election. Randall Guernsey filed to run for Hobart Township Assessor after having previously served in the office before losing the 2022 Democratic primary to Maggio.
On the Republican side, Cedar Creek Township Trustee Alice Dahl, West Creek Township Trustee Heidi Laub, and St. John Township Assessor Debbie Walters are running for re-election.
A handful of municipal filings occurred as well. Incumbents Schererville Town Councilman Tom Schmitt, D-4th; Schererville Town Councilman Kevin Connelly, R-2; Dyer Town Councilwoman Mary Tanis, R-4th; and Dyer Town Councilwoman Mary K. Timm, R-2nd, filed to run for re-election. In Cedar Lake, Democrat Jeff Biel filed to run for the 3rd Ward Town Council seat, while Republican Peggy (Endris) Thiel is running for the 2nd Ward Town Council seat.
Porter County
In Porter County, a few county offices and the majority of the township offices up for reelection had yet to see anyone declaring candidacy.
Added to the rolls since filing opened Wednesday morning were incumbent Sheriff Jeff Balon who’s seeking a second term on the Republican ticket. Joining the Republicans in a bid for coroner is Jerame Simpson, a patrol lieutenenat with the Valparaiso Police Department.
Current coroner Cyndi Dykes, also a Republican, is term-limited and is running instead to take over the seat of outgoing Porter County Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center, who has put her hat in the race for Frank Mrvan’s First District seat in Congress. Running against Dykes for Regnitz’s seat is County Councilman Mike Brickner, R-At-Large.
When filing opened Wednesday morning, Porter County’s Chief Finance Deputy Jackie Haney had filed as a Republican candidate for county clerk; Chief Deputy Recorder Jon Miller, also a Republican, had filed for a bid as county recorder; and Assessor Sue Neff was running for reelection, also as a Republican. County Council Vice President Red Stone, R-1st, had also filed to run for a second term. None of them face challengers from their own party thus far, nor are there any Democratic candidates as of press time.
No one has filed to run for county auditor, a seat currently held by Republican Karen Martin, nor County Council Districts 2 and 4, held by Democrat Jeremy Rivas and Council President Republican Andy Vasquez, respectively. Republican Dawn Miller was one of the first to file Wednesday for County Council District 3, held by Democrat Greg Simms. Jack Tipold filed as a Democrat for the seat.
At the state level, State Representatives Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron, Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, and Randy Novak, D-Michigan City, have filed for re-election
Seven of the county’s townships have yet to see candidate filings. Five Democrats have filed to run for township offices, including: Boone Township Board Member Jeff Grogan has filed to retain his seat on the Boone Township Board, though appears to have switched parties; Kevin Hagen for Center Township Trustee; Mary Jo Nuland and Kendra Davison for Center Township Board; and Incumbent Suzanne Phillrick for Westchester Township Trustee.
Seven Republicans filed as candidates for township offices, including: Howard O’Connor, who was caucused in in November as a member of the Boone Township Board is running for Boone Township Trustee; Incumbent Board Member Chester Ebner is running for reelection to the Boone Township Board; Porter County Recorder Chuck Harris for Center Township Trustee; David Ondrovich for Portage Township Assessor; Incumbent George Topoll and Union Township Board Member Robert Emery for Union Township Trustee; and Incumbent Board Member Cheryl Evans to retake a seat on Westchester Township Board.
— Shelley Jones contributed to this report.