Lake County commissioner race gets crowded

CROWN POINT | Richard Novak has joined the Democratic race to fill the Lake County commissioner seat being vacated by incumbent Fran DuPey.

Novak, a North Township Board member, a bailiff in Lake Circuit Court and a retired East Chicago police officer, becomes the third Democrat to file in the May 8 Democratic primary to become the 3rd District county commissioner, one of three top executives in county government.

The district includes Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting, Munster and parts of St. John Township.

Novak ran a strong race in 2008 for the district against DuPey, but was forced to split the anti-incumbent vote with another Democrat, Oscar Sanchez.

Novak will compete for Democratic votes with Peter Katic, a former county commissioner and North Township board member, and Lake County Councilman Michael Repay, D-Hammond.

In state races, three incumbent legislators filed or announced they would file for re-election this year.

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, is seeking another term in Senate District 5, which includes Pulaski and portions of Jasper, LaPorte, Porter and Starke counties. He entered the Senate in 2007. He attended Wabash College, Loyola University and works as an attorney.

State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, is seeking a new term in House District 1, which encompasses Hammond's west side and parts of Munster.

She has served in the Indiana General Assembly since 1998. She is a graduate of Hammond's Gavit High School and is a retired Hammond police office.

State Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, is running in House District 19, which includes Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Winfield and southern portions of Lake County, and parts of Porter County. She has served in the state legislature since 2007.

Republican Ron Johnson filed to run in District 19 as well.