Criminal defense attorney and former Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Bennett led fellow former Porter County Prosecutor Harry Peterson in the polls Tuesday night to represent Republicans to face off against Porter County Prosecutor Democrat Gary Germann in the November election.
Bennett led with nearly 62% of the primary vote while Peterson had 37%, according to preliminary vote tallies. Peterson is currently the LaPorte County felony supervisor deputy prosecutor and was a Porter County deputy prosecutor for six-and-a-half years. Vote tallies will be certified May 15.
“I want to thank my family, friends and everyone who supported my campaign for their encouragement, guidance, support and prayers in my run for Porter County Prosecutor. Those who have helped in large and small ways, each of their efforts contributed to my success in this race,” Bennett said via text.
“Thank you to all the voters who took the time to cast a ballot and supported me with your vote. My sincere appreciation and gratitude are beyond measure. I look forward to campaigning for the general election and to a successful election where I can once again work with law enforcement to keep Porter County safe for all who call here home.”
Bennett has practiced law for 27 years, nearly 14 as a deputy prosecutor in Porter County and two-and-a-half years as a deputy prosecutor in Lake County, where he specialized in narcotics cases.
He also has specialized training from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and has said he will encourage his staff, if elected, to specialize in specific areas of prosecution as he did with vehicular homicide.
“I’ve always wanted to give back to the office,” Bennett said, explaining he left in 2014 to open his own criminal defense firm due to his wife’s sudden change in employment. With their youngest child a senior at Purdue, he feels he can make that commitment.
Bennett finds his relationship with law enforcement a strong suit. “I’ve always enjoyed working with law enforcement,” he said. “Even though I’ve been gone for 11 ½ years, I have a lot of friends in law enforcement, and they’ve often told me of the disconnect with the prosecutor’s office.”
If elected, he plans to rebuild relationships with law enforcement, intends to survey victim assistance training and protocols, and make himself available to law enforcement at all hours.
Germann is in his second term as county prosecutor.
Only 14% of Porter County’s 132,000 registered voters turned out Tuesday.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
