Porter County Prosecutor Race: Germann Leads in Preliminary Votes

In the Porter County prosecutor race, preliminary vote totals showed incumbent Gary Germann leading over Republican challenger Andrew Bennett on Tuesday night. Germann, aged 78 and a Democrat, previously served his initial four-year term starting in 1978 before transitioning to private practice. He returned to public office with his election in 2018.

As of the latest unofficial returns, Germann was ahead with 53.34% of the vote, with all precincts reporting. He chose not to comment until additional results were available. The county election board is set to certify the results on November 13.

Bennett, who is 55 years old, was attempting a similar transition from private practice back to public office, as Germann had done. Reflecting on his candidacy, Bennett mentioned, “I am running because I didn’t want to leave in the first place.” He brings with him 16 years of experience as an assistant county prosecutor, which includes over 13 years as a deputy prosecutor in Porter County until 2014 when he moved to private practice.

This campaign marks Bennett’s first political run. He has spoken highly of Germann, recognizing him as one of the leading trial attorneys in Northwest Indiana. Despite this respect, Bennett believed he could introduce new perspectives to the role. He was unavailable for comments on Tuesday night.

Germann has previously stated that under his leadership, the office has experienced positive cultural changes. He has expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying, “I love the job. It’s super-challenging and we have a great staff.”

Jim Woods reports for the Post-Tribune as a freelance journalist.