Portage Township Assessor Alta Neri, who was reelected to a third term as a Democrat in November before announcing less than two months later that she had switched parties, is stepping down from the office as of May 14 for a new job.
She sent an April 17 letter of resignation to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office and to the Porter County Clerk’s Office.
Because Neri was elected as a Democrat, the Porter County Democratic Party will hold a caucus for precinct committee chairs in Portage Township in the coming weeks to select her replacement, said Brendan Clancy, the party’s chair.
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“I think she just wants to move on. She’s been there awhile,” Clancy said, adding the caucus to replace Neri will be “very soon.”
Neri said her husband, Rob Newman, wants to retire from U.S. Steel and it was “time to make some change.”
Neri, who said she sent her letter to the Porter County Board of Commissioners as well, will start a new job on May 15 in the St. Joseph County Assessor’s Office in South Bend, doing work that’s similar to what she’s doing now.
“I’ve been in the office 16 years and I was offered a job and I thought about it,” she said. “I love my office and staff very much and wanted to make sure that the staff and residents had someone to work with.”
Neri served as deputy assessor and then chief deputy in the office before she was elected. She said in January that she changed parties because she felt the Democratic Party no longer reflected her values on social issues.
Neri’s last day in the Portage office is May 12. She wants to make sure the efficiency of the office continues, she said, so she did recommend somebody to replace her.
“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work as the Assessor and the professional growth that has been provided,” Neri said in her resignation letter, going on to note that she appreciates everyone’s support over the past 16 years and offering her assistance during the transition.
“I know the Portage Township Assessor’s Office will continue to be an asset to the community as a new Assessor takes my place,” she wrote.