Penn Township's elected officials

Penn Township is in St. Joseph County, Indiana. 5 elected seats, all elected citywide.

Penn Township Assessor

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
Township AssessorCherie Defreese sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

Penn Township Board

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
Township Board MemberDave Schmidt sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Township Board MemberKent D Hizer sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Township Board MemberKris Verash sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

Penn Township Trustee

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
Township TrusteeDoris J Portolese sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

Also representing Penn Township

County commissioners, the sheriff and other county officers, and the school board: St. Joseph County's elected officials. Other cities in St. Joseph County: Centre Township, Centre Township, Clay Township, Clay Township, German Township, German Township, Greene Township, Greene Township, Harris Township, Harris Township, Liberty Township, Liberty Township, Lincoln Township, Lincoln Township, Madison Township, Madison Township, Mishawaka, Mishawaka, Olive Township, Olive Township, Portage Township, Portage Township, South Bend, South Bend, Union Township, Union Township, Warren Township, Warren Township.

Who lives in Penn Township

68,620people
37median ageU.S.: 38.9
$65,544 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
12.5%below the U.S.: 12.5%
30.6%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$189,800median home valueU.S.: $332,700
5.3%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
5.2%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
5.5%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
6.4%U.S.: 8.4%
43.5%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
18.5%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 5.2% · White 79.1% · Black 7.3% · Asian 1.8% · Other or more than one race 6.6% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Figures for the Census Bureau's Penn township (St. Joseph County). 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.

Quick answers

Who is on the Penn Township governing board?
Cherie Defreese (Township Assessor); Dave Schmidt (Township Board Member); Kent D Hizer (Township Board Member); Kris Verash (Township Board Member); Doris J Portolese (Township Trustee).
What is the population of Penn Township, IN?
About 68,620 people, with a median age of 37; the median household income is $65,544 and 12.5% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

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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