Porter County Sheriff's Department

Taking the oath

VALPARAISO: New Year's induction cause for celebration for Porter County Dems

BY KEN KOSKY

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 12:09 AM CST

VALPARAISO | A broken hip and leg trouble meant Betty Lain couldn't get out of the nursing home to see her son, David Lain, get sworn in as Porter County sheriff on New Year's Day.  So the sheriff brought the ceremony to her.  David Lain joined his family and friends Monday morning at Life Care Center of the Willows in Valparaiso. He had his mother hold the Bible while he took his oath of office from Porter Superior Court Judge David Chidester.  "Isn't he a dear, thoughtful son to do that?" said Betty Lain, clad in a pink sweatshirt and matching pants.  "When he told me (of the plan), I couldn't believe it," she said.  David Lain credits his wife, Jeffrin, with coming up with the idea. During a brief speech after the induction, he said that family is the most important thing in his life.  "Although you can't see him, my dad is here," David Lain said of his father, the late Merle Lain.  David Lain is part of the Democratic wave that won most seats during the November election. A large group of Democrats and a smaller contingent of Republicans were sworn in earlier Monday at the Porter County Administration Center in Valparaiso. Leon West, Porter County Democratic Party chairman, told the Democratic crowd gathered at the administration center that he had "never seen this many Democrats on a swearing-in day."  But he told officeholders that with election success comes responsibility.  "Our people know, now that we've won those seats, we have to show them we can do it was well as anyone can. I know we can," West said.  Like their Democratic counterparts, Republicans such as Union Township Board member George Topoll and Morgan Township Trustee Richard Schultz took their oath and vowed to continue serving the public.  "We'll try to keep open opportunities for people to communicate with their elected leaders," Topoll said.  Democratic Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper said with the new development code coming up for review, proper planning and zoning will continue to be the focus in the upcoming year.  "The commissioners are now in tune with the residents and what they desire for the future of their community," Harper said.  Finances also will be pivotal, as will getting tax bills out, Harper said.

New year, new leaders take oath in Porter County

January 2, 2007

By JAMES D. WOLF, Jr. Post-Tribune

The swearing in of Porter County elected officials began a New Year's Day when most government entities were closed.  The ceremonies included more Democrats than in recent memory, Porter County's Democratic Party Chairman Leon West said.  Three county council members, a county commissioner, an auditor, an assessor, a coroner and supporters packed the Porter County Government Building's meeting room.  "We had good candidates. We worked hard," West said. And they got out the vote.  There are problems, but "we want to deal with them efficiently," he added.  Bob Harper said "the big thing is going to be the new development ordinance and zoning ordinance" in his second county commissioners term.  The trouble with tax increment financing areas not taxed right will require officials to be ready immediately, second term County Councilwoman Rita Stevenson said.  Second-term County Councilman Bob Poparad foresees nothing unusual as the TIF work has started, and "we'll get a handle on the late tax bills," he said.  He declined to comment on the hospital sale before he sees any paperwork.  Auditor Jim Kopp plans to have the TIF problems resolved by the end of January and the changes phased in. There's also a lot needed "to bring that office into the 21st century," he said.  The optimism crossed party lines.  "There's a lot of big issues with the hospital, and we have some problems with TIF districts right out of the gate. But we've got some good people, and we'll get it straightened out," new Porter County Councilman Matt Murphy said.  He, County Recorder Linda Trinkler and township boards were sworn in before the Democrats.  Pamela Mishler Fish, who will become clerk of the Superior Court in 2008, asked to be sworn in with the other Democrats after working together.  "It's kind of like graduating with my class," Fish, who'll train this year, said.  One swearing in ceremony took place elsewhere.  Porter County Sheriff David Lain chose Life Care Center of The Willows so his mother, who recently broke her hip, could watch.  "I was always instilled with the idea that family comes first," Lain said.  Betty Lain compared it with watching her son, Larry, get his doctorate.  "This kind of outweighs it," she said. Larry studied, but David studied, worked and met people to get this, she explained.