(La Porte County, IN) - There’s even more turmoil in the La Porte County Republican Party with the November 8 election on the horizon.

 

La Porte County Commissioner Rich Mrozinski has been stripped of his status as a member of the GOP. Last night’s decision by party members was unanimous.

 

La Porte County Republican Party Chairman Allen Stevens said Mrozinski’s support of the commissioners taking a mobile voting unit away from the La Porte County Election Board last week triggered the action. Stevens' wife, Heather, is the LaPorte County Clerk and member of the LaPorte County Election Board.

 

Mrozinski and Democrat Sheila Matias have since agreed to return the voting van to the election board. 

 

Stevens said the decision also follows a long line of broken promises he made to the party after switching over from the Democratic Party in 2016 and breaches of trust and other characteristics the party represents.

 

“This is about making it clear to the voters of this county that Mr. Mrozinski is not a Republican in any way, shape or form. He has betrayed his fellow Republicans and the values of the party,” Stevens said.

Stevens said Mrozinski attacking multiple Republican candidates was another reason for the vote.

 

He also cited Mrozinski’s alignment with La Porte Commissioner Sheila Matias in the decision-making process on the governing body, as well as the placement of a rubber snake outside the office of Republican La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz during the night as among the other examples of him breaking from the party.

 

Mrozinski and Stabosz, along with Republican Commissioner Joe Haney, are among the officials almost constantly at odds with each other in what's been an often bitter political battle for nearly two years. 

 

Mrozinski denied placing the snake until he was made aware of a video capturing him carrying out what’s been termed “snakegate.”

 

Mrozinski has come under fire by party members for his support of hiring Shaw Friedman as La Porte County government attorney and for maintaining his support for Friedman. 

 

This recent drama follows other party turmoil. Recently, Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski and La Porte County Councilman Mike Rosenbaum resigned as vice-president and secretary of the party. In her resignation letter, Pierzakowski stated, In the letter, she says, "my personal moral compass has no grey areas. I have voiced my opinion on several issues. However, my concerns have not been resolved."