(La Porte County, IN) - A longtime public servant is running for a seat on the Board of La Porte County Commissioners, with an eye on restoring civility to the ongoing hostile political environment.

 

Mike Kellems will be seeking the District 2 seat as a Democrat in the May primary, having registered as a candidate today not long after the period opened for citizens to file for a place on the ballot.

 

Kellems said he brings to the table the skills of a police officer, which he believes can soften the extreme ongoing political tempers in county government, especially during commission meetings for the past three years.

 

“I’ve spent a lifetime of building bridges and helping people get past issues. That’s what a police officer is about. Helping people fix things,” he said.

 

Kellems also said he feels all of the political fighting is hurting La Porte County financially.

 

“I think a lot of the arguing and bickering that goes on is chasing away business. I think it’s chasing away economic opportunity,” he said.

 

Kellems is a retired more-than-30-year member of the La Porte County Police Department, currently acting as a part-time law enforcement officer for Purdue University Northwest in addition to doing some federal government-related law enforcement work.

 

Kellems is a former La Porte School Board member and was board president during a portion of his tenure.

 

Currently, the District 2  seat is held by Rich Mrozinski, who has not revealed whether he’s going to seek a third term. If he does run, he would face La Porte County Auditor and political enemy Tim Stabosz in the May Republican primary.

 

Stabosz also signed on as a candidate today for the District 2 seat rather than seeking a second term as auditor.