Washington wins Lake County Council District 2 seat

Democrat Darren L. Washington won the Lake County Council District 2 seat on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Bradley Hutchison, according to unofficial results from the Lake County election summary.

Washington received 10,127 votes to Hutchison's 1,750, with 172 of 336 precincts reporting as of 8:23 p.m. Nov. 3. The results remain unofficial until certified by the county.

Washington, a Gary at-large common councilman, will join the county's budget-setting body. The district includes much of Gary, according to Capital B Gary.

The seat was open. Washington defeated four other candidates, including incumbent Ron Brewer Sr., in a five-way Democratic primary in May. He received 38% of the 6,258 votes cast, Capital B Gary reported. Hutchison ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

What the council does

The Lake County Council is the county's fiscal body, according to the county's council page. It fixes the county tax rate, approves budgets for every county department, sets pay for county workers, authorizes borrowing and approves land sales, leases and purchases.

In Lake County, full legislative power is vested in the council by state statute, unlike most Indiana counties where legislative authority is split between the council and commissioners, according to an Indiana county government brochure. The position pays $43,584, Capital B Gary reported.

A new state law will make the job harder. Senate Bill 1 reduces property tax revenue for local governments, Capital B Gary reported, leaving the council to determine how Lake County will continue paying for services.

The candidates

Darren L. Washington has served on the Gary Common Council as an at-large member. He previously served on the Gary Community Schools board and the Calumet Township board, according to Chicago Tribune coverage from August 2022.

Washington has pushed for greater scrutiny of utility costs in Northwest Indiana, urging local governments to support Gary's resolution calling for the repeal of utility trackers that allow NIPSCO to adjust customer charges between rate cases, Capital B Gary reported. The Post-Tribune reported Oct. 28 that Washington has been visiting municipalities to build support for resolutions challenging NIPSCO's rate burden on customers. The Post-Tribune reported that Washington did not respond to its interview request.

Bradley Hutchison, 71, is a Gary resident endorsed by Highland Republicans and the Lake County Republican Party, Capital B Gary reported.

Hutchison told the Post-Tribune he decided to run because he is "tired of the corruption of the current administration," citing what he described as misuse of $300,000 in commissary money in the Lake County Sheriff's Department and county offices unable to balance their books.

He opposes data centers. "We do not need them in Indiana; look what's happening to the people in Hobart," Hutchison told the Post-Tribune. He said data centers add $20 an hour to electrical costs.

Hutchison also said Gov. Mike Braun needs to reverse Senate Enrolled Act 1 and restore the existing tax system, the Post-Tribune reported.

What happens next

Washington's victory will ripple back to Gary's city government. Capital B Gary reported Oct. 26 that his win would create a vacancy on the Gary Common Council's at-large seat. City residents would not vote on his replacement.

Instead, the Lake County Democratic Party would fill the seat through a caucus of elected precinct committee members. Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Repay said he expects the caucus for the at-large seat to take place after the Nov. 3 results are known, Capital B Gary reported. The winner would be sworn in Jan. 1, 2027.

The Gary Common Council's 3rd District seat is also vacant after the death of longtime Councilwoman Mary Brown in early October. A caucus to fill that seat is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave., Capital B Gary reported.

Results

Unofficial results with 172 of 336 precincts reporting as of 8:23 p.m. Nov. 3, per the Lake County election summary. The Lake County Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 12 for provisional ballot review and certification.