Lake County, IN elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Lake County: 81 seats on 47 elected bodies. 63 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

Board of Commissioners

Lake County Board of Commissioners

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County Commissioner, District 1Kyle W Allen Sr. Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Commissioner, District 2Jerry Tippy Republican source
County Commissioner, District 3Michael C Repay Democratic source

Lake County Council

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County Council Member, District 1David Hamm Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Council Member, District 2Clorius L Lay Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Council Member, District 3Charlie Brown Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Council Member, District 4Pete Lindemulder Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Council Member, District 5Christine Cid Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Council Member, District 6Ted F Bilski Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Council Member, District 7Randy Niemeyer Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County AssessorLatonya Spearman Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County AuditorPeggy Holinga Katona Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Clerk of the Circuit CourtMike Brown Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County CoronerDavid J Pastrick Democratic source
Prosecuting AttorneyBernard A. Carter Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County RecorderRegina (Gina) Pimentel Democratic source
SheriffOscar Martinez Jr Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County SurveyorBill Emerson Jr Democratic source
County TreasurerJohn E Petalas Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

Cities and towns

How many local governments Lake County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 66 local governments in Lake County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships (19 municipal, 11 township)3016
School districts (school boards)160
Special districts (elected boards)190

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Lake County

500,379people
39.7median ageU.S.: 38.9
$71,493 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
14.3%below the U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$230,600median home valueU.S.: $332,700
6.1%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
7.3%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
5.8%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
6.6%U.S.: 8.4%
52.3%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
23.7%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 20.9% · White 51.4% · Black 22.7% · Asian 1.6% · Other or more than one race 3.4% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Lake County

4.7%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.6%. Indiana: 3.7%.
11,411people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
232,337people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
243,748in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Lake County 0.0%2.7%5.4%8.1%10.8% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)4.7%11,411232,337243,748
August 20264.8%11,568229,731241,299
July 20264.7%11,552233,204244,756
June 20264.7%11,618235,473247,091
May 20264.3%10,549232,502243,051
April 20264.2%10,022230,637240,659
March 20265.1%12,285228,677240,962
February 20265.4%12,938227,930240,868
January 20264.7%11,459230,608242,067
December 20254.0%9,603231,003240,606
November 20254.2%10,144232,278242,422
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20254.6%11,298232,072243,370
August 20255.0%12,145230,669242,814
July 20255.4%13,158232,431245,589
June 20255.1%12,686234,391247,077
May 20255.2%12,661230,494243,155
April 20254.7%11,444232,173243,617
March 20255.5%13,382229,782243,164
February 20256.2%15,146227,395242,541
January 20256.0%14,721229,250243,971
December 20245.1%12,384228,623241,007
November 20245.2%12,550229,094241,644
October 20244.9%11,986230,647242,633
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)5.1%12,399231,085243,484
20245.5%13,224227,521240,745
20235.0%11,914225,265237,179
20224.6%10,767222,972233,739
20216.4%14,771216,997231,768
202010.3%23,977208,805232,782
20194.8%11,450224,762236,212
20184.9%11,508223,983235,491
20175.0%11,781221,721233,502
20166.2%14,630221,668236,298

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Indiana's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.4% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Quick answers

Who is the Lake County County Assessor?
Latonya Spearman (Democratic) is the County Assessor of Lake County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Lake County County Auditor?
Peggy Holinga Katona (Democratic) is the County Auditor of Lake County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court?
Mike Brown (Democratic) is the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lake County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Lake County County Coroner?
David J Pastrick (Democratic) is the County Coroner of Lake County, Indiana.
Who is the Lake County Prosecuting Attorney?
Bernard A. Carter (Democratic) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Lake County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Lake County County Recorder?
Regina (Gina) Pimentel (Democratic) is the County Recorder of Lake County, Indiana.
Who is the Lake County Sheriff?
Oscar Martinez Jr (Democratic) is the Sheriff of Lake County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Lake County County Surveyor?
Bill Emerson Jr (Democratic) is the County Surveyor of Lake County, Indiana.
Who is the Lake County County Treasurer?
John E Petalas (Democratic) is the County Treasurer of Lake County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Lake County commissioners?
Kyle W Allen Sr. (District 1); Jerry Tippy (District 2); Michael C Repay (District 3); David Hamm (County Council Member, District 1); Clorius L Lay (County Council Member, District 2); Charlie Brown (County Council Member, District 3); Pete Lindemulder (County Council Member, District 4); Christine Cid (County Council Member, District 5); Ted F Bilski (County Council Member, District 6); Randy Niemeyer (County Council Member, District 7).
What is the population of Lake County?
About 500,379 people, with a median age of 39.7; the median household income is $71,493 and 14.3% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Lake County?
4.7% in September 2026 (preliminary): 11,411 people unemployed in a labor force of 243,748, against 4.6% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Lake County?
66 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 19 municipal, 11 township, 16 school district and 19 special district governments.
What cities and towns are in Lake County?
36: Calumet Township, Calumet Township, Calumet Township, Cedar Creek Township, Cedar Creek Township, Center Township, Center Township, Center Township, Crown Point, Crown Point, Eagle Creek Township, Eagle Creek Township, Gary, Gary, Hammond, Hanover Township, Hanover Township, Hobart, Hobart, Hobart Township, Hobart Township, Hobart Township, Lake Station, Lake Station, North Township, North Township, Ross Township, Ross Township, Ross Township, St. John Township, St. John Township, St. John Township, West Creek Township, West Creek Township, Winfield Township, Winfield Township. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Indiana Election Division's certified results of each seat's last election (the 2022 and 2024 generals and the 2023 municipal election, on enr.indianavoters.in.gov); county vacancies are filled by party caucus, so officials appointed since then may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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