Porter County Democratic Party Chair Brendan Clancy has tendered his resignation, and while the party won’t formally caucus to replace him until May 20, it looks as if Ward 2 Porter Town Council Member Don Craft will be the new leader.
Clancy stepped in on a temporary basis in August to replace former chair Drew Wenger, who held the position for about a year and a half. Previously, Jeff Chidester had led the Porter County Democrats since 2007. Clancy only intended to fill the role briefly, as he’s busy in his role as Portage Township Trustee.
“I honestly was just going to do it through the election, so I kind of hung on for a little bit,” he said.
“My biggest concern, I think, was concern over the congressional race and the local state races,” he said of his focus during his brief tenure. The caucus to replace him will be a closed-door session where the precinct chairs will vote for his replacement.
There are 123 precincts in Porter County, though all may not have a chair in place. Precinct chairs are elected every four years by voters.
“Quite often nobody may run for that spot,” Clancy said.
Those voting in the caucus must have been appointed by the party chair or elected at least 30 days prior to the caucus. That body is expected to elect Craft.
“I think there are a lot of qualified people. However, I think there is a kind of consensus that Don Craft is the right person at the right time,” said Democrat Robert Cotton who represents the 2nd Ward on the Valparaiso City Council.
“I think he’s really got great temperament and lead-by-example style,” Cotton said. “It was an easy step away from contesting Don’s candidacy, because he was immaculately well-equipped.”
Clancy appreciates the trust his colleagues put in him and is excited for the party’s political future and that of the county as a whole.
“I think that he is extremely intelligent and has a lot of vim and vigor and he’s exactly what county politics needs right now,” he said of Craft.
Porter County Commissioner Laura Blaney, a Democrat representing the South District, said Clancy stepping down will be a loss to the party.
“He was always one who wanted to work across the aisle to get things done for the sake of the county and I always appreciated that.
“I don’t know Mr. Craft personally, but I certainly appreciate him stepping up at a time that politics is not a lot of fun,” she continued.
Blaney said local leaders need to keep national politics out of local operations and focus on what needs to be done here, because there’s plenty.
Cotton feels the future of the Democratic Party is directly linked to its ability to help the public understand what’s transpiring and stop voting against their own interests.
“There are a whole lot of people on the other side who vote for policies that are counter to their own interests,” he said.
Avoiding ideological silos that keep leaders from doing the greatest public good should always be the goal in order to reflect the melting pot of interests that exist in society, Cotton said.
Craft could not be reached for comment.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
