Porter County Councilman Mike Brickner, R-At-Large, led Porter County Coroner Cyndi Dykes, 60% to 40% in the polls Tuesday to represent Republicans for a shot at the District 2 seat on the Porter County Board of Commissioners being vacated by Barb Regnitz, also a Republican.
Kyle Nelson, of Valparaiso, led Jim Kocal 57% to 42% in the Democratic race.
Ballot totals are unofficial; results will be certified May 15.
Brickner said he’s “been in public service a long time and I had a lot of support. And getting those votes is a big deal. I don’t take it lightly.”
He spoke by phone from home Tuesday night, where he was having a quiet evening after helping his son and daughter-in-law move back to Valparaiso after college graduation. “I’ve had a lot of very pleasant phone calls and text messages.”
He said his campaign plans to get started on the general election right away. “I think challenges create opportunity, and I think that’s the way we’re going to be approaching it.”
Regnitz did not seek reelection, but received 61% of the Republican vote in a bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Congressman Democrat Frank Mrvan, District 1. Brickner lost to Regnitz in 2022.
Brickner is in his sixth year as a county councilman. He retired from Lake County Community Corrections in January of last year after five years on the job, but spent 31 years with the Valparaiso Police Department, the last 13 as chief. He also served as director of Porter County Public Safety for three years.
Dykes, one of the managers of her family’s business, Dykes Funeral Home in Valparaiso, is in her eighth year as coroner. Under state statute, she could not seek a third consecutive term.
Nelson, a bar manager and bartender, believes working-class citizens should be able to see themselves in government. He feels the county also needs more dynamic representation and should be doing a much better job of communicating what the county is doing, how, and why.
Kocal, a retired pharmaceutical territory manager, is from Union Township and was running out of concern for his children and grandchildren.
“I am just extremely overjoyed by the show of support,” Nelson said Tuesday night. “Really great to be able to see democracy take effect, and I’m really honored to be a part of it.”
Only 14% of Porter County’s 132,000 registered voters turned out Tuesday.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
