CROWN POINT | Two Hammond businessmen used the first day of candidate filing to mark their interest in an open seat on the Lake County Council.
Louis Karubas, owner of the Hammond's downtown LaSalle Hotel, and Michael C. Repay, a Hammond real estate agent and owner of the Hammond's Flat Rock Tap, are running in the May 4 Democratic Party primary for the County Council's 1st District seat, being vacated by incumbent Councilman Ernie Dillon.
Karubas is a member of the Hammond Public Library's board and a three-term former Hammond city councilman. Repay is a younger brother of Hammond City Councilman Dan Repay, who is about to become the new executive director of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission.
Ross Township Assessor Randall Guernsey is running for county assessor. Paul Karras, the current county assessor, isn't eligible to run for re-election because he hasn't yet successfully completed Level 2 certification training and said last week he has no plans to do so before the candidate filing period ends Feb. 19.
Guernsey said he recently completed the more advanced Level 3 certification classes, a requirement for county assessor in future years.
Chris Roberts-Gonzalez, of Merrillville, was the first to file of several potential Democratic candidates for county sheriff. Current Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez is barred by term limits from running again.
Newly elected County Clerk Mike Brown is seeking popular election after being named last month by Democratic precinct committeemen to fill a vacancy created by Thomas Philpot's shift from county clerk to county coroner.
Other incumbent county officials running for re-election include: Lake Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Arredondo, County Auditor Peggy Katona, County Treasurer John Petalas, Commissioner Roosevelt Allen, County Councilwomen Christine Cid and Elsie Franklin and County Councilman Ted Bilski.
Township officials seeking new terms include: Calumet Township Trustee Mary Elgin, St. John Township Trustee Jean. E. Shepherd, Cedar Creek Township Trustee Alice F. Dahl, Center Township Trustee Eldon Strong, Center Township Assessor Kristie L. Dressel, Ross Township Trustee John W. Rooda and Hobart Township Assessor Julia M. Wolek. Democrat Daniel Bielski also is running for St. John Township trustee.
The county's 304,000 registered Democrat and Republican voters will be asked May 4 to pick their parties' nominees to 15 county, 11 municipal, 49 township and 561 precinct committee offices. There also are nonpartisan races for 23 school board seats in Crown Point, Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Hanover School District in Cedar Lake, Lake Ridge School District in Calumet Township, Highland, Munster and River Forest School District in Hobart Township.
