The Lake County Democratic Party has a busy week ahead, with three separate caucuses to replace council members who chose to resign their posts over the state’s anti-conflict of interest law.
Hammond will hold its caucus at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Jean Shepherd Center, 3031 J.F. Mahoney Drive, to replace Hammond Chief Fire Inspector Mike Opinker, the city’s 5th District Councilman who was also serving as council president, Chairman Sheriff John Buncich said Monday. Only one candidate, Dave Woerpel, 5th District precinct captain, has registered for the position.
East Chicago’s caucus is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Club Ki-Yowga, 5220 Indianapolis Blvd., with a considerably larger field for the at-large seat vacated by Juda Parks, an East Chicago police officer. Among the nine candidates who filed are former City Clerk-Treasurer Mary Morris-Leonard and former State Rep. John Aguilera Jr., D-12, Buncich said.
Rounding out the list are Jesus Ortiz, Rosendo Cuevas, RosaMaria Rodriguez, Lydia Corsbe, Ronald London, Reggie Tisdale and James Ventura, a precinct committeeman in the city’s 3rd District. Ventura ran unsuccessfully for the 3rd District council seat vacated by Robert Battle in May.
Hobart’s caucus, meanwhile, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion Post 54, 208 S. Linda St., and has five candidates vying for the spot vacated by Hobart Police Sgt. Matt Claussen: Dave Spott, Jennifer Woronecki-Ellis, Joshua Coons, and Precinct Committeemen Dan Waldorf and Mark Kopil, Buncich said.
Lake Superior Court Judge William E. Davis ruled last month that the 2012 statute prohibiting municipal employees from being elected to their own municipal councils does not violate the Indiana Constitution. It was the third time the courts ruled against Claussen, Opinker, Parks and New Chicago Clerk-Treasurer Sue Pelfrey.
Pelfrey, however, resigned her council seat earlier in July.
Under the judge’s ruling, the state’s attorney general’s office could recover any illegal payments made to anyone who continues to draw salaries from both their elected council seats and municipal positions.
Doors for the three caucuses open at 5 p.m. and are sealed at 6 p.m. Potential candidates for each of the posts have until 72 hours before the caucus to apply with the Lake County Democratic Central Committee and had until 6 p.m. Monday to withdraw, Buncich said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter. Freelancer Carrie Napoleon contributed.
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