Oct 2026 Candidate Forum

Description

Candidates will participate in a Candidate Forum hosted by the Duneland Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, October 7 to be held from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. The event will offer guests the opportunity to meet and hear from the candidates representing the Duneland Communities and the state of Indiana. 

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required for guests and candidates.

Candidates Currently in Attendance
Andrew Bennett (R) - Porter County Prosecutor
Steve Bensing (R) - Portage Township Board
Brian Bowles (R) - Porter County Coroner
Mike Brickner (R) - Porter County Commissioner District 2
Rebecca Buitendorp - Porter County Circuit Court Judge
Chris Cleveland (R) - Indiana House District 9
Barbara Domer (D) - Porter County Clerk
Cheryl Evans (R) – Westchester Township Board
Travis Gearhart (L) – Indiana House, District 4
Gary Germann (D) - Porter County Prosecutor
Kevin Hagen (D) - Center Township Trustee
Jackie Haney (R) – Porter County Clerk
Chuck Harris (R) - Center Township Trustee
Rudolph Jimenez (R) – Jackson Township Trustee
Scott Kingan (D) - Porter County Assessor
Julia Kocal (D) – Porter County Council District 4
Brandon Kroft – Duneland School Board
Deborah Lynn Harrison (D) - Liberty Township Board
Heather McCarthy - Porter County Superior Court No. 4 Judge
Dawn Miller (R) - Porter County Council District 3
Jon Miller (R) - Porter County Recorder
Chuck Moseley (D) - Indiana House District 10
Frank Mrvan (D) - U.S. Representative District 1
Sue Neff (R) - Porter County Assessor
Kyle Nelson (D) - Porter County Commissioner District 2
Randy Novak (D) – Indiana House District 9
Mary Jo Nuland (D) - Center Township Board
Leslie Nuss Bamesberger (D) – Porter County Recorder
Rodney Pol (D) - Indiana State Senate District 4
Barb Regnitz (R) - U.S. Representative District 1
Matt Smith (D) - Pine Township Trustee
Nate Uldricks (R) - Indiana State Senate District 4
Ted Uzelac (R) – Indiana House District 10
Julie Wiencken-Smith (D) - Porter County Coroner
Mary Willis (D) – Jackson Township Trustee

*Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name for reference only; this listing does not indicate speaking order

As a non-partisan organization, the Duneland Chamber is committed to providing an open platform for all candidates to share their priorities with our membership and the greater Duneland community.