(La Porte County, IN) - The balance of power appears to have changed on the politically embattled La Porte County Commission. Republican Connie Gramarossa defeated incumbent democrat Sheila Matias, who was mayor in Michigan City in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
Gramarossa, 58, who currently serves on the La Porte County Council, won the only seat on the three member governing body up for grabs this year. Gramarossa, who lives in Michigan City, lost to Matias in 2018 by close to 800 votes, but received 57% of the vote on election night.
Gramarossa states that her campaign promise to be more "hands on" as a commissioner than her opponent has been really resonated with voters. Gramarossa was a county commissioner in 2018 when appointed to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Mike Gonder.
“I think people out in the county saw what a part-time commissioner does and I think knowing what I had done the first time around in 2018 that I was there, I was receptive, people could see me. I think that’s what folks want,” she said.
Matias, 67, led by nearly 1,000 votes after all of the early voting ballots were counted, but then trailed Gramarossa by about 2,400 votes once a majority of the votes that were cast on Election Day were tallied.
Surprisingly, she and other Democrats fell even further behind when the final 15 or so precincts were tallied, including about ten precincts from areas in Michigan City that have historically favored Democrat candidates.
"Obviously, I’m disappointed but the people have spoken and I respect the people of La Porte County. They’ve made a choice. I served the best I can. I’ve given it 100% effort and I wish Connie the very, very best in her service,” she said.
It’s widely believed that once Gramarossa takes her seat on January 1st, she will join Commissioner Joe Haney in replacing La Porte County Attorney Shaw Friedman, who was supported by Matias and Commissioner Rich Mrozinski.
The selection of Friedman as county attorney was a major source of nearly two years of constant political clashing on the county commission and, in general, county government.
