Porter County Commissioner District 1 Choose 1
Commissioners develop and adopt county laws on a wide variety of topics such as public health, parks, solid waste management, roads and highways, zoning and land use. One of the central roles commissioners perform in county management is overseeing the personnel system. Generally, their roles and responsibilities apply only to the unincorporated areas of the county that are outside the municipal boundaries of our Cities and Towns.
Biographical Information
First and Last Name
Edward K. Morales
Campaign Phone
219-928-6530
Campaign Address and Email
326 Phillip Rd Valparaiso In. 46385
ekmorales1@gmail.com
Social Media and Website Links
www.facebook.com/morales4commissioner
What experience, education and personal characteristics qualify you to serve on the Board of Commissioners?
I am currently the Porter Township Trustee. I presently serve 9570 citizens, that’s roughly 40% of the total population of citizens residing in District 1. South Porter County. Two biggest responsibilities as trustee are Public Safety and Township Assistance. I have a vast knowledge of government fund accounting, budgets and regional planning.
I currently serve as a Commissioner on the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC). I have served on several Committee’s with NIRPC including Finance and Personal, Legislative, Surface Transportation (STC) and Ped, Pedal & Paddle (3PC). Currently serving on Land use. I served on the Porter County ARPA steering committee for Nonprofits.
If elected, what are your top three priorities and what will you do to address them?
Public Safety, Infrastructure and Responsible Growth. Police and Fire Services play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, create long term funding solutions that ensure these departments have the resources and staff they need. Maintaining and rebuilding our current Infrastructure. Responsible Growth, growth is good, but it must be done responsibly, but Sound Infrastructure must lead the way, better roads and proper drainage. We need to develop a comprehensive replacement schedule and secure consistent funding to truly stay ahead of our infrastructure instead of being reactionary and by doing that you can sustain Responsible Growth.
Transparency, accountability and access to the Board’s actions and decisions is essential for the public. How will you ensure up-to-date access to Board proceedings and keep your constituents informed, engaged and involved in local government?
Support the main citizen portal that currently exist and expand that to different county departments that are not as accessible. As commissioner, I would like to have a community forum at least twice a year at the county expo center, or a venue in different parts of South County to hear from our residents on their concerns and gather their feedback. Residents should have the opportunity to weigh in and ensure they have a voice in how their communities develop and what vision of the county they would like to see happen in the future. I would also post on social media issues that require immediate attention or special events that residents need to be informed on.
What will you do to ensure easy access to your office for county residents?
I know most people like to email, but I would rather you call my office or schedule a meeting in person. I believe the County has a good system in place with communication in the office reporting residents’ concerns to their elected officials. Whether they respond back is what I think the substance of this question refers to and there will be times it may take a day or two to get back to you, but I will get back to you. As township Trustee I understand the importance of being accessible to my constituents, I am responsible for their safety and well-being.
Affordable housing is a growing need in Porter County. What are your priorities for meeting these challenges?
As a commissioner, my commitment to responsible government spending and low property taxes will ensure residents can afford to live and raise their families here.
What is your position for the role of local government in the environmental protection efforts in Porter County and NWI?
Continued Focus on Responsible and sustainable Growth goes hand – in –hand with protecting our environment. Enforcing development standards and not backing down to corporations and companies trying to amend them for their own profit will also be a focus of mine.
What else would you like to tell voters?
Our county is going to be faced with several challenges with the expediential growth Porter County has experienced. Our infrastructure has to be maintained and properly funded. Public Safety is at a crossroad. Police and fire service staffing shortages will become a concern if not now in the very near future. Porter County tax rates are one of the lowest in the state that’s why we live here. We’re not the small county we used to be, rising inflation is not going away, we need to elect responsible officials who understand the job that they were elected to do instead of electing officials with fancy tag lines and colorful broachers that keep kicking the can down the road rather than finding long-term solutions.
Biographical Information
What experience, education and personal characteristics qualify you to serve on the Board of Commissioners?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, what are your top three priorities and what will you do to address them?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Transparency, accountability and access to the Board’s actions and decisions is essential for the public. How will you ensure up-to-date access to Board proceedings and keep your constituents informed, engaged and involved in local government?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What will you do to ensure easy access to your office for county residents?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Affordable housing is a growing need in Porter County. What are your priorities for meeting these challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What is your position for the role of local government in the environmental protection efforts in Porter County and NWI?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What else would you like to tell voters?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
What experience, education and personal characteristics qualify you to serve on the Board of Commissioners?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, what are your top three priorities and what will you do to address them?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Transparency, accountability and access to the Board’s actions and decisions is essential for the public. How will you ensure up-to-date access to Board proceedings and keep your constituents informed, engaged and involved in local government?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What will you do to ensure easy access to your office for county residents?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Affordable housing is a growing need in Porter County. What are your priorities for meeting these challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What is your position for the role of local government in the environmental protection efforts in Porter County and NWI?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What else would you like to tell voters?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
First and Last Name
Dan L. Whitten
Campaign Phone
219-671-1373
Campaign Address and Email
115 S 570 W, Hebron IN 46341
What experience, education and personal characteristics qualify you to serve on the Board of Commissioners?
I served four terms (16 years) on the Porter County Council. During which time, I was the President of the Board for most of those years. In addition, I was the incorporator member and president of the Porter County Charitable Foundation. As a Veteran of the United States Army, years as police officer and four terms on the Porter County Council, I have spent nearly my entire adult life in the service of others. I am a graduate of Portage High School, Purdue University and Valparaiso Law School. My wife Stacey and I have a law firm, with offices in Portage and Merrillville. As an attorney, I have represented Cities, Towns and Schools and various municipal boards throughout the region
If elected, what are your top three priorities and what will you do to address them?
Our roads in the County are in serious need of help. I will make it a priority to up our attention to the improvement and upgrading of our road system. We have funds to allocate if we simply prioritize.
Communication between elected officials. We are all in this together. Less politics and more transparency. Its time to leave the political nonsense at the door and get back to open transparent business.
Staffing is a clear issue. There has been a big turnover of staff in county government. Whatever the excuses of the day may be, those leaving have indicated a huge morale problem. We need to address that problem and improve morale amongst the employees. With unnecessary turnover comes unnecessary loss of knowledge and experience
Transparency, accountability and access to the Board’s actions and decisions is essential for the public. How will you ensure up-to-date access to Board proceedings and keep your constituents informed, engaged and involved in local government?
Not only will the meetings continue to be videoed, I will continue to make myself available to my constituents through direct contact. During my yeas in public office, I had a reputation of being very accessible. Not only were constituents able to reach me through phone, social media and email, they often stopped into my law office to chat. That practice will continue. I do not participate in “back door meetings” and I simply do not play games with public dollars. They belong to the residents, and therefore they deserve my watchful eye and open discussion as to how those dollars are being spent.
What will you do to ensure easy access to your office for county residents?
As stated above, I pride myself on being accessible. I offer many different ways to reach me with questions, concerns and issues for discussion. Often, this allows us to head off and prevent a problem, rather than having to fix one hat has occurred. I approach elected office as a “partnership” with the folks that put me in that office. Together we can move Porter County onto the right track and heading in the right direction.
Affordable housing is a growing need in Porter County. What are your priorities for meeting these challenges?
As an attorney helping thousands of families struggling through hard times, I fully understand that many families in our County are working through difficulties in fulfilling the “American Dream” of home ownership. I am compassionate, understanding and willing to help them through these difficulties. Controlled organized growth is the key. As with all planning, it’s a big picture approach. Maintaining the integrity of our county and its quality of life, while also working toward available and affordable housing opportunities for our residents and families looking to relocate and remain here.
What is your position for the role of local government in the environmental protection efforts in Porter County and NWI?
I have always enjoyed spending time out in the world. Growing and into my adult life, I have I have appreciated the gift of nature and the importance of protecting it. Unfortunately, I have also seen that in our world, many people do not share my passion and commitment for protecting the environment. As leaders, we must stand up and be stalworth on our fight to protect what is left of our natural world. I have taken on many fights in that endeavor. I was actively involved in the fight against a mega landfill in South Porter County. This project would have destroyed the wildlife, aquifir and natural environment of all of South Porter County. On a more personal note, I currently own wetlands in Porter County that I acquired for the sole
What else would you like to tell voters?
During my time n office, I established a reputation for being a watchdog of the public’s interest. Our County Commission needs a watchdog now. “Self serving” has no place in county government and all decisions should be made with “public serving” driving the train. I do not mince words, and I do not make promises I don’t intend to keep. AS I stated above, I have worn many hats in public service, not only as an elected official. Through my service in the US Army and my many years as police officer, I understand the fundamental mandate to treat one other with dignity honesty, and respect. If given the opportunity to serve in this office, I will continue with that commitment.