GOP voters get Lake Council 7th District primary choice

Incumbent Jorgensen faces challenge from Cedar Lake’s Niemeyer

Christian Jorgensen, firstterm incumbent Republican 7th District Lake County Councilman, faces a primary challenge from three-term Cedar Lake Town Councilman and the body’s current president, Randy Niemeyer, in the May 3 primary.

Both men say they support law enforcement, transparency and fiscal responsibility.

“If it’s not broke, then don’t fix it is what my father always told me,” Jorgensen said via an email.

The same holds true for political incumbents, he said. Jorgensen touted his background, experience and track record while serving on the Lake County Council and the St. John Town Council.

Jorgensen said his goals are and have always been fiscal responsibility, limited government, responsible growth, strong law enforcement and services and skilled labor.

“It is as simple as that. It takes time to build relationships and trust among your colleagues and departments, years actually. I have earned that trust and built the relationships, even in an all-Democrat county. That make me the most effective representative for South County,” he said.

Niemeyer said he decided to go “all in” this election cycle, opting to run for county council instead of seeking a likely reelection to his town council spot this cycle.

“I had a number of residents here in this district who I have known for many years … express a great deal of displeasure that the current representative is never anywhere to be seen,” Niemeyer said.

As a public servant, Niemeyer said he has always been somebody who believes he needs to stay connected to the people he represents. He said Jorgensen has pretty well advertised his associations with county contractors, local labor unions and attorneys.

“The people in the district never see him. They feel like they are not being served by their elected officials,” Niemeyer said, adding he would work to ensure everybody in every community sees him as their neighbor.

Jorgensen pointed to a balanced county budget with a surplus each year; the continued audit of existing departments for incorrectly encumbered funds to increase the county’s surplus and eventually lower or refund a portion of the county tax; continued improvement of the remote access transparency developed during COVID and never raising or creating new taxes.

He has also worked to keep the Sheriff’s Department and corrections’ officers properly equipped and within their own

budget. During his term the county council has moved to sue the board of commissioners to remove control of county purchasing and data processing from commissioners.

Niemeyer said he also supports law enforcement and providing the proper and necessary equipment for sheriffs’ police and corrections’ officers, but he does not support giving the sheriff free reign with no oversight to make purchases.

“The lawsuit filed to take control of purchasing would create a situation where the sheriff ’s department can get whatever purchases they want without having to answer questions of commissioners and have accountability,” Niemeyer said.

He said the council has used a 1981 law done in error to pursue the lawsuit. Now the sheriff still doesn’t have the equipment he wanted and the case is tied up in court costing taxpayers.

“I think that it’s easy to support law enforcement. Equipment is important. It is important to ask questions and make sure the equipment is what is needed and what is right for taxpayers and the department,” Niemeyer said.

Niemeyer said most elected officials would say they want the sheriff to have what he needs.

“It’s called being a good public servant. What’s missing here is an acceptance of accountability,” Niemeyer said.

Jorgensen said he will continue to fight to reserve South County’s fair share of American Rescue Plan Act and other federal stimulus funds for responsible development and growth.

“We recently provided $1.1 million to Lowell with ARPA funds for Lake Prairie School in Lowell to get it off its failing septic system and also to support future growth in surrounding areas,” Jorgensen said.

Niemeyer said he would fight for the proper use of American Rescue Plan Act dollars and other federal funds by lobbying commissioners for projects that would support his constituents. He disagrees the funds could be used for the sewer projects in both Lowell and Crown Point. He said a better approved use would have been to invest in broadband connectivity in underserved areas. Internet service below 25 megabits per second is not considered broadband, and many areas in unincorporated Lake County could have benefited from improved internet service.

“Our job is to understand what the needs of the unincorporated areas are and connect that to plans commissioners’ have. Councilmen need to become more collaborative,” Niemeyer said.

“I like serving my neighbors. Local government is an area where you can make a difference. I would create a good conservative voice on the council. I won’t be a stick in the mud. You won’t see me protesting everything. Sometimes you’ve got to push back, raise your hand and say let’s have a debate here. A rubber-stamp in government is never good for people. I hope to offer a voice that has been missing for the last four years,” Niemeyer said.

Jorgensen said he is in favor of increasing bipartisanship.

“I am against partisan politics and the government stalemates it causes and I fully endorse reaching across the aisle to get things done for South County. I have spent three years building these relationships. My opponent criticizes this approach and all Democrats, and for that he will be ineffective and useless in county politics,” Jorgensen said.

“I have unfinished business on the council and I am running so that I can continue to get the job done,” Jorgensen said.