(La Porte County, IN) - A candidate for La Porte County Council says he would not welcome data centers with open arms.

 

Tim Stabosz said data centers belong in the Kingsbury Industrial Park and other heavily industrialized zones so they don’t have a negative impact on the lives of people by locating close to neighborhoods. Stabosz also said he doesn’t want data centers to spoil the beauty of the county and way of life here, while acknowledging the tax money data centers can bring local municipalities.

 

“Under my leadership, if elected to the county council, we will not compromise the soul of La Porte County,” he said.

 

Stabosz, the former La Porte County Auditor, said his position is similar with solar farms or any other kind of development.  He also said residents whose lives would be impacted by data centers and solar farms must have a say.

 

“No secret deals and no non-disclosure agreements which seek to explicitly squelch public input,” he said.

 

Stabosz also said residents in places like Hudson Lake, Fish Lake and Saugany Lake should not have to tie-in to any water or sewer extensions if their wells and septic systems are in good working order.

 

“From a planning perspective, if the majority of folks in those communities do not want intensive "Chicago style" development to happen, they should be listened to, and the county, through zoning, should facilitate these communities in preserving their essential character, as it exists now, for generations to come,” he said.

 

Stabosz is seeking the Republican nomination for La Porte County Council District 4 in the May 5th primary.  He's opposed by Jimmy Pressel, who defeated him by two votes for the seat in a Republican caucus last year when the seat became open prior to the expiration of the four-year term.