11 vie for 3 County Council seats

VALPARAISO | Candidate filings wrapped up at noon Friday with last-minute additions to the County Council and county surveyor's races.

Democrat Ned Kovachevich and Republican Ethan Lowe joined nine others seeking three open seats on the County Council.

Republican Ralph Neff had filed a day earlier, bringing to seven the number of GOP candidates seeking their party's nominations. Four Democrats will face off in the May primary.

Richard Hudson filed Friday as a candidate for county surveyor, setting up a Republican primary race against Bill Rensberger, who joined the race Thursday.

Candidates have until Monday to pull out in enough time to stay off the ballot, said Sundae Schoon, the Republican representative at the Porter County voter registration office.

The local party chiefs have until July 3 to fill vacancies on the ballot, she said.

Both parties have primary battles for the south district commissioner seat race and two Republicans will face off in the primary for the north district commissioner seat.

Incumbent office holders not facing a re-election challenge include superior court judges Bill Alexa and Jeffrey Thode, and county Treasurer Mike Bucko.