Precinct committeemen in Lake County’s 1st District have five candidates to choose from when they meet in caucus Wednesday to select a new commissioner.
Committeemen will gather at 6 p.m. in the Syd Garner Auditorium at the Lake County Government Center to select a replacement for the late Commissioner Roosevelt Allen Jr. who died unexpectedly Jan. 8. He was 68.
Sheriff John Buncich, chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, said the five who filed by Sunday’s deadline include Kyle Allen Jr., Lita Filippo and Dwight Gardner, all of Gary, Christopher “Cha” Meyers of Crown Point, and Dave Spott of Hobart.
District 1 includes a large portion of Gary east of Cline Avenue and portions of Lake Station, Hobart, Merrillville and Crown Point.
Kyle Allen Jr., cousin to the Roosevelt Allen, just started his fifth term as a member of the Gary Common Council. He has the support of Gary Mayor Karen-Freeman Wilson.
“From a personal standpoint, it’s just for me, outside of just enjoying what I do in public service, it’s making sure I fill the goals and expectations (of my cousin) and make sure I live up to his legacy,” he said.
Filippo ran unsuccessfully for the seat in the 2015 Democratic primary against Roosevelt Allen. She said her willingness to put herself out there and run for the position against an incumbent commissioner demonstrates her dedication to the seat, unlike the other candidates.
“I am the only one that had the integrity to run…I really put myself out there to do that,” Filippo said.
Her goals remain the same today as in the 2015 primary, to be a watchdog for lowering taxes and to ensure county contracts have transparency.
“My vision on a lot of things is different from other people.,” she said. “I do believe it’s time to restore integrity in the democratic process and the party.”
Meyers has worked in the public sector in both municipal and contractor positions for the past 20 years. This is his first bid for an elected post.
“This caucus represents a unique opportunity to bring a new and politically unattached representative into county government,” Meyers said.
He touted his work in both the north and south sides of the county and 1st District on projects including spearheading local ordinance and code updates and working with local and federal agencies on quality of life projects. Meyers said he has secured federal and state funding for road construction and repairs and public safety equipment and vehicles, and has worked on developing opportunities to repurpose and reuse the lakefront.
“I have worked to help bring benefit to the citizens of Northwest Indiana. I hope that I can get the endorsement of our precinct people to be able to do that on a county level,” Meyers said.
More Top Picks Buying Advice
Gardner is pastor at Trinity Methodist Baptist Church in Gary and has served on the Northwest Indiana Interfaith Coalition. Spott previously has run for Hobart City Council and the 12th District State Representative seat. Neither could be reached Monday.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post Tribune.