(La Porte County, IN) - Ending four years of extreme political fighting is top priority for both newly elected members of the LaPorte County Commissioners.  But, only time will tell whether incumbent Joe Haney and Steve Holifield, who are both Republicans, can avoid such clashing once taking their seats on January 1st.

 

Haney, 47, defeated Randy Novak by about 2,200 votes for a second term in a race featuring a lot of mudslinging especially in the final weeks of the campaign.

 

Holifield, 59, won by a similar margin over veteran law enforcement officer Democrat Mike Kellems in a race both candidates described as positive and respectful.

 

Novak, a retired Michigan City fire chief, will return to his seat on the La Porte County Council to serve the remaining two years on his third term.  He often defended himself against claims by Haney and La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz of benefitting financially for supporting no-bid contracts awarded to contractors and being a puppet for power brokers within the party.

 

Novak alleged Haney was a puppet for Stabosz, a major financial supporter of the Haney’s campaign and a campaign contributor of money to a select number of other republican candidates.

 

The 59 year old Holifield, a farmer and president of the Lincoln Township Board, said he has a long record of working with people and plans to do the same with Haney.  Holifield, though, said he will not tolerate continued political firestorms triggered by Haney, Stabosz or anyone else during Commissioners meetings that have La Porte County government labeled even downstate as a “laughingstock.”

 

Instead, Holifield said he will insist any disputes between the Commissioners be discussed privately to avoid more public drama.

 

Stabosz, on the other hand, will no longer be Auditor when his term expires December 31st.  He was defeated by Holifield in the May primary.

 

Holifield said he expects Stabosz to keep showing up but there’s not much he can do to stop him from creating friction should he try during the public comment portion of meetings.  His plan is to let him speak his mind until he has nothing left to say.

 

“It’s like a crying baby. Once they’ve cried long enough they usually go to sleep and be quiet,” he said.

 

Haney said he intends to work with Holifield as long as they are on the same page against things like hiring and awarding contracts to family members and what he described as other “shady” dealings.

 

“That’s my hope.  I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet.  We’ll see,” he said.

 

La Porte County Councilman Mike Rosenbaum will vacate his seat to become the next La Porte County Auditor.  Rosenbaum, Republican, ran unopposed.

 

His seat will be filled in a vote by Republican precinct officials from within the county during a caucus sometime in January.  Stabosz said he has strong interest in becoming a candidate for the open seat and has been lobbying precinct officials for their support.

 

Holifield, who has a vote as a precinct committeeman, said the party should not elect Stabosz to fill the two years left on Rosenbaum’s term since he was defeated in the primary.

 

“We should not ignore that and put him in,” he said.

 

Haney said he wants to know who is seeking the seat first before supporting anyone but feels Stabosz is qualified to serve in that capacity.

 

“I think he would be a fine addition,” he said.