The women who unseated Democratic incumbent trustees in Hobart and Ross townships have never held public office.
Nonetheless, they didn’t hold back. They lobbed allegations, ranging from sexual harassment to financial mismanagement, at their male opponents and eked out victories by less than 100 votes each.
In unofficial results, Ericka McCauley, of Hobart, beat Fred Williams by 71 votes in Hobart Township and Myesha Jones, of Merrillville, defeated Eric “Eazy” Blackmon by 99 votes in Ross Township, in Tuesday’s primaries. No Republicans ran for trustee in either township.
The votes will be finalized by the Lake County Board of Elections May 15.
McCauley, a Texas transplant, moved to Hobart in 2013 when her husband took a new job.
McCauley ran for a seat on the Hobart Township board in 2018 and lost.
As trustee, she said she wants to modernize the office and institute policies on sexual harassment and discrimination, along with conflict-of-interest standards.
McCauley ran with a slate of board candidates that included Dianna Brooks, a former eight-year administrator and executive bookkeeper in the township office. She was fired in June 2024.
She and another female former employee, who was also fired, filed lawsuits March 28 in U.S. District Court in Hammond alleging Williams’ administration violated the women’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. They also contend Williams violated Indiana’s whistleblower protection law.
McCauley, a communication consultant, organized a news conference where the women and their attorney met with the media.
Williams, who earned $64,000 last year according to state records, didn’t respond to the allegations.
McCauley attributed her win to grassroots support.
“I got out and talked to voters,” saying she knocked on over 2,000 doors.
She ran a lean campaign, raising less than $1,000 at a fundraiser and spending about $2,500 in total, she said.
McCauley accused Williams of spending more on salaries than on township relief.
A township trustee’s duties include providing emergency assistance for rent, utilities, and burial, overseeing fire protection and emergency services, and managing township property.
The state has toyed with eliminating township government for years. This year, the General Assembly passed a new law, written by Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, that requires the state to assign points to each township, and one with at least four points would merge with one that has fewer than four points.
The Department of Local Government and Finance will assign points if a township did not provide assistance in 2023 or 2024, if it didn’t manage fire protection or emergency medical services on Jan. 1, 2025, or if it didn’t file an annual finance report to the State Board of Accounts in 2023 or 2024.
McCauley voiced support for the measure.
“I also encourage the current board members to work with Trustee Williams to ensure expenditures comply with Senate Bill 270 and the standards it establishes — and to help the office get there,” she said.
In Ross Township, the race between Jones and Blackmon featured reports of intimidation and social media sniping.
Blackmon is the first Black to head the trustee’s office. Jones would be the first Black woman to oversee the office.
McCauley delivered an email to the Post-Tribune accusing Blackmon and Williams of the misuse of funds, saying Blackmon didn’t help township clients with food assistance in 2024 and 2025, and that township-funded direct aid totaled less than $30,000 while aid from non-township sources totaled $945,000, among other accusations.
“The (Ross Township Trustee) office functions primarily as a referral desk, while its assistance fund compensates staff,” a document McAuley sent alleged.
Blackmon, who earned $94,601 last year according to state records, issued a rebuttal to McAuley’s accusations just before the May 5 primary, saying “more than $213,193 in funds were spent in support of the residents in need in 2025.”
The money came from donations, funds and contributions by community partners and non-profit agencies, Geminus Community Partner, Indiana 411, The Salvation Army, Lake Area United Way and Northwest Community Action, among others.
“All money from these sources were used to provide assistance to Ross Township residents in need of emergency shelter, transportation, food, food pantry access, clothing, counseling, case management services, and utilities,” he said.
Blackmon called the accusations a “smear campaign.”
“I lost votes because of the false narrative that her and my adversaries wanted voters to think. Even after my fact-check press release, the damage was done,” Blackmon told the Post-Tribune.
“Another factor was the Crown Point Precinct Committee Organization, who endorsed me. They created a candidate mailer who listed me as Ross Township Assessor, not the Ross Township Trustee.
Blackmon, who said he will miss his role as trustee, added that he is a state delegate for the Democratic Convention next month. “I’m preparing for my next political journey,” he said.
Jones is a retired Merrillville teacher and registered Republican. Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Repay certified Jones to run as a Democrat in February, according to a certification letter the Post-Tribune obtained.
Jones didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Carole Carlson and Michelle Quinn are freelance reporters for the Post-Tribune.
