(La Porte County, IN) - A retired firefighter is looking to retain his La Porte County Council seat.

 

Randy Novak, 63, is vying for a third term in the District 2 county council race against Aaron Kirk. Novak, a Democrat, has been council president for five of the last eight years.

 

Novak is also a former 33-year member of the Michigan City Fire Department and was fire chief for five years before his retirement at the end of 2019. In addition, he has remained active as a practicing licensed realtor since 1998.

 

Novak said he’s running again because he enjoys helping in areas like quality of life and community involvement.

 

“I love LaPorte County, and I want to see it the best it can be,” Novak said.

Novak said economic growth would continue to be high on his priority and other issues, such as mental health.

 

For several months, Novak has been working with officials from LaPorte, Michigan City, and the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte on ways to help people overcome their addictions to drugs and alcohol.

 

Novak plans to continue helping with those efforts, including establishing the first respite house in the county.

 

People who just completed treatment would live in the facility together for an extended period to help their chances of long-term success in staying sober.

 

“We’re trying to make that a reality,” Novak said.

Currently, Novak said people completing treatment have to go elsewhere for such care but often have to wait for space to become available. He said returning to the same environment to await a vacancy increases the odds of relapse.

 

Aaron Kirk, 44, is a field service engineer and project manager for Siemens Energy.   His work is performed in nuclear power plants, mainly in Braidwood, Illinois. He’s also a former officer with the U.S. Merchant Marines working on cargo ships bringing in goods from overseas.

 

Kirk, a Republican, said his first run at public office was in response to a dislike for what’s happening in politics, mainly at the national level.

 

“We can sit around and complain about things, or we can try and get involved and be agents for change,” Kirk said.

Kirk said his top priority is supporting things aimed at reducing crime, like further increases in the wages of police officers to keep them from going elsewhere for higher pay.

 

“They got a little something, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Kirk said.

Kirk said he also believes providing more job opportunities can help combat crime.

 

“I don’t think it’s a new concept. I just think people have to stand firm and have the courage to do what’s right and fund the things that are going to affect positive change,” Kirk said.