Update: December 1st ... I'll keep moving this post up to top when I revise and add news. So far I've stayed away from proposing names or announcing rumors of impending candidacies, but I'm fine if you the reader want to do so. Today's news: Judge Thomas Webber to challenge Rep. Ed Soliday for the Indiana House.
2010 will feature county level elections for a portion of commissioners and council seats, some of the county elected "skill" positions (an NFL term) and township government. We will also have the chance to vote on all our Indiana House seats, and a portion of our Senate seats. Remember that due to the constitutional census in 2010, the House seats become a pretty big deal as they apply to apportionment and redistricting at every level of government. Currently the Democrats control the House 51-49 and the Speakership.
In Porter County we will vote on:
- Auditor - current incumbent Jim Kopp (D) ... Vicki Urbanik (D) has announced for auditor ... I don't believe incumbent has announced yet
- Assessor - incumbent John Scott (D) not sure he's running again. Maureen Wendrickx (D) current Portage township assessor has announced.
- Sheriff - incumbent David Lain (website for Lain) (D)
- Surveyor incumbent Kevin D. Breitzke (D)
- Coroner incumbent Victoria Deppe (D)
- Recorder incumbent Linda Trinkler (R) Jon Voelz (D) has announced
- Clerk - incumbent Pam Fish(D)
- Center District Commissioner - incumbent Bob Harper (D) Rumors swirling about possible challengers from Republican side, nothing concrete yet though.
- All four District Council seats - incumbents Mike Bucko (D) in So. County district (although this seat will move to another democrat in January when Mike becomes County Treasurer) anyone know who the heir apparent is? , Rita Stevenson (D) in Portage district and Jeremy Rivas (D) has announced his intention to run against her in the Dem primary, Karen Conover (R) in Center district, and Bob Poporad (D) in Chesterton/Duneland.
- All townships trustees - here's the incumbents Ed Moralis (Porter) Joyce Webster (Portage) Anthony Pampalone (Union) and Chuck Conover (Center) Russell Franzman (Boone) Janice Meyers (Jackson) Margaret Ruge (Liberty) Richard Schultz (Morgan) Nancy Kolassa (Pine) Jean Oehlman (Pleasant) Lynn Ross (Washington) Suzanne Philbrick (Westchester). I am not aware of challengers yet, so send me names if you know people who have announced for these seats.
- State Representative incumbent Ed Soliday-District 4 (R) Judge Thomas Webber (D) has announced a challenge (see Times article)
- State Representative incumbent Chuck Moseley-District 10(D)
- State Representative incumbent Charlie Brown - District 3(D)
- State Representatiave Shelli Vandenburgh incumbent (website) - District 19 (D) challenger announced Luke Abbot (R) here's an article about Luke (Luke on twitter) (Luke on facebook) (Luke's campaign site) This district shaping up to be the only legitimate targeted seat for switching so far.
- State Senate incumbent Karen Tallian - District 4 (D) no one on Republican side yet.
- Indiana Sec of State - incumbent cannot run again Charlie White (R) has announced, remember that this race does not go to a primary, instead like last year's Attorney General it goes to each party's convention in the late spring. Charlie looks to have the Republican side wrapped up.
- Indiana State Treasurer - incumbent Richard Mourdock (R)
- Indiana State Auditor - incumbent Tim Berry (R) Sam Locke (D) has announced
- US Rep incumbent Pete Visclosky (D - 1st) Mark Leyva (R) is running and Jayson Reeves (R) has said he's running ... although I've argued the point Dan Dumezich has not agreed to run for this seat.
- US Rep incumbent Joe Donnelly (D - 2nd) Jackie Walorski (R) has announced an exploratory committee
- US Senate incumbent Evan Bayh (D) with Marlin Stutzman (R) announced and Tamyra D'Ippolito (D) challenging from his own party.
