Lake assessor passes on Statehouse run

CROWN POINT | Lake County Assessor Hank Adams said Tuesday his supporters have talked him out of a run for the General Assembly.

"Voters elected me for four years and the large majority want me to continue as county assessor but said they would not vote for me if I ran for state representative," according to a press statement his office released.

Adams was the first Republican in 60 years to win a countywide race in 2010 when he defeated Democrat Carol Ann Seaton by 668 votes to take over tax assessment duties in this Democratic stronghold.

However, Adams was presented with a new opportunity last year when the Indiana legislature redrew district boundaries for the House of Representatives, recreating a District 15 that included all of Schererville, Dyer, most of St. John and four Griffith precincts.

That would have been familiar territory for Adams who was elected to four terms as St. John Township assessor. The township covers much of the same territory.

Schererville Town Councilman Harold "Hal" Slager is currently the only candidate for the new 15th House seat in the May 8 Republican primary. Former County Councilman Thomas O'Donnell is the sole Democratic candidate for the seat.

More candidates could jump into the race before the noon Friday deadline.

Dyer Town Councilwoman Debbie Astor filed Tuesday to run as a Republican for the 3rd District county commissioner seat being vacated by outgoing Commissioner Fran DuPey.

Astor served as a Dyer councilwoman from 2003 to 2006 and was re-elected in 2010. The 3rd District includes Whiting, Hammond, Highland, Munster, Dyer and a handful of St. John precincts.

Daniel Langmesser filed this week to run as a Republican for 2nd District county commissioner seat now held by incumbent Democrat Gerry Scheub.

Langmesser is a perennial candidate who has run for public office 29 times since 1976, but is still looking for his first general election win. The 2nd District covers Merrillville, Schererville, most of St. John, Crown Point, Winfield, Cedar Lake, Lowell and all of rural south county.