(La Porte County, IN) - A longtime police officer is running for a seat on the La Porte County Council.

Mike Kellems is running for the First District seat, which covers primarily southern La Porte County. Republican Terry Garner of Hanna now fills that seat, though he has yet to file for re-election. 

Kellems, a Democrat, said the county has grown in recent years and wants to help continue that momentum. Kellems's other priorities include higher salaries for county employees for emergency responders and the highway department.

"I stand at the ready to join with council members in a bipartisan fashion to do what is fiscally responsible and right and best for the citizens of La Porte County," he said.

Kellems retired from the sheriff's department in 2018 after 32 years. Currently, Kellems is a police officer for Purdue Northwest at the Westville campus. He also works for the U.S. Marshal's office.