Our state and federal races have received a lot of attention this election cycle, but there are some important races taking place in Lake County, too.
Gary and Lake County voters will select a new sheriff, new auditor, prosecuting attorney, a county commissioner, and more.
See who’s running in each race and what the winning candidate would be responsible for in each role.
Early voting is underway. Read our Election Guide.
Sheriff
Salary: $188,927.81
The sheriff oversees the county jail, courthouse security, inmate transportation and county police operations. The sheriff’s department often provides patrol assistance to the Gary Police Department and other communities.
Democrat Jerry Williams faces Republican candidate David K. Crane Jr. for the seat left vacated by term-limited Sheriff Oscar Martinez. If elected, Williams would become Lake County’s first Black sheriff.
A Gary native and longtime Indiana State Police major, Williams previously served briefly as Gary’s interim police chief. His priorities include improving jail conditions, increasing staffing and strengthening financial oversight. He has also proposed prohibiting sheriff’s department employees from participating in sheriff campaign activities.
Crane, an Army veteran originally from Gary, served 17 years with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. According to his campaign website his experience includes patrol supervision, investigations and serving warrants. He says his focus would be to reduce wasteful spending and strengthen cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
Lake County Commissioner, District 1
Salary: $81,599
The Board of Commissioners is the executive branch of Lake County. The three-member body oversees county property and infrastructure, including the jail and county roads. They approve payments, take bids, and award contracts. The role of the commissioners came into focus for Gary last year after they made the final decision on the location of the Lake County Convention Center, which was awarded to the city then.
Commissioners also have the power to push back on the council, a group that sets county policy and budgets. Last year, it voted 2-1 to veto a hiring freeze the council passed during budget planning.
Each commissioner serves a four-year term with staggered elections. Commissioners must live in one of the three districts drawn for the commission. Gary is in District 1.
Democratic incumbent Kyle W. Allen Sr. faces Republican Will Miller, a Gary native.
Miller has served on the Gary Plan Commission and was a Gary NAACP executive board member. In a 2024 interview with Capital B Gary, Miller emphasized his experience in workforce development and healthcare, including teaching at Ivy Tech, as crucial to his approach to governance. Miller’s current platform focuses on restoring fiscal responsibility by cutting wasteful spending and increasing job growth.
A former Gary councilman, Allen has served in the role since 2016 and has been instrumental in directing funds to Gary, including funds for demolition and blight elimination. Last year he voted, along with Commissioners Jerry Tippy and Michael C. Repay, to select Gary as the home of the new Lake County Convention Center. He also voted along with Repay to veto the County Council’s decision on a hiring freeze. Allen is also a proponent for the county being able to elect judges.
Lake County Councilors
Salary: $43,584
Much like city councils, the county council is the county’s fiscal body and approves the budget for every county department. The council also approves borrowing, sets pay for county workers, and approves land sales, leases, and purchases.
A new state law will give council members tough decisions to make. Senate Bill 1 reduces property tax revenue for local governments, leaving the council to figure out how Lake County will continue to pay for services as money tightens.
County Council District 2
The district includes much of Gary.
Gary at-large Common Councilman Darren Washington defeated former Gary councilman and incumbent Ron Brewer Sr. in a five-way Democratic primary. Washington formerly served on the school and township boards. He has called for greater scrutiny of Northwest Indiana’s infrastructure and utility accountability, urging other local governments to support Gary’s resolution calling for the repeal of utility trackers that allow NIPSCO to adjust customer charges between rate cases.
Republican Bradley Hutchison ran unopposed in the May Republican primary. Hutchison is endorsed by Highland Republicans, as well as the Lake County Republican Party.
County Council District 3
This open seat also covers part of Gary and is held by Charlie Brown, who is not seeking reelection.
Democrat Dwight Williams, who currently serves on the Gary Common Council representing the 6th District, is trying to succeed him. Williams lists creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and improving schools as his priorities.
Republican Stephen Aichner is a Hobart resident and mortgage broker with more than 20 years of experience. Aichner serves as chairman of the Hobart Township Republican Party and secretary of the Lake County Republican Party. His priorities include reducing government waste, strengthening financial accountability, and increasing the housing supply to improve affordability.
Auditor
Salary: $70,773
As the county’s chief financial officer, the auditor keeps the books, pays the bills, runs payroll, and calculates and distributes property taxes to local governments.
Gina Pimentel beat incumbent Peggy Holinga Katona and Sondra Ford in the May Democratic primary. Pimentel previously served as chief deputy in the recorder’s office before becoming recorder in 2021. She proposes retraining employees who handle property tax deductions.
Republican Charles “Chuck” Messler is a union Ironworker from Lowell. According to his campaign website, Messler has spent 12 years working on structural projects across Northwest Indiana. He says he would focus on strengthening the financial systems and improving accountability for taxpayer dollars.
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Salary: $99,900
The clerk keeps court records, collects court fees and child support payments, and issues marriage licenses.
Democrat Mike Brown is seeking reelection to an office he has held since 2022. Brown told the Post-Tribune this month that he wants to continue to update the county’s technology in an effort to improve service. He is especially interested in expungement. He currently works with public defenders and holds expungement forums with various community groups.
Leslie Dallner ran unsuccessfully for Indiana House District 3 in 2024. Dallner’s campaign website identifies transparency, technology, and transformation as her priorities for the clerk’s office. Though not directly related to the role of clerk, during her campaign she has focused on reminding voters of Lake County’s designation as unauditable by the State Board of Accounts, an indication that the county can run more efficiently.
Treasurer
Salary: $81,618
The treasurer collects property taxes, manages and invests county funds, and handles tax sales on delinquent properties.
John E. Petalas has served in the role on separate occasions since 2007. He is seeking reelection after defeating Anthony Manuel in the May Democratic primary. Petalas says his priorities include maximizing investment returns and pursuing legislation to restore a tax amnesty program with the goal of helping taxpayers save their homes from tax sales.
Republican Kevin Deane spent three decades as a building engineer with Chicago Public Schools. Deane lists accountability, compliance, and transparency as his top priorities and also proposes making treasurer’s mailings available in more languages, including Spanish, Polish, and Serbian.
