30-year local business owner, local government watchdog, and community advocate.
I’m running to bring discipline, transparency, and common sense back to county government — and to make sure taxpayers finally have leadership that puts results ahead of politics.
For years, I’ve watched county government drift away from the people it’s supposed to serve. The county government delays or hides spending decisions, handles contracts behind closed doors, and treats basic accountability as an inconvenience rather than a responsibility.
I’m not running just to call out what’s broken. I’m running to replace it with a system that works — one built on competence, planning, and accountability. County government should operate like a well-run organization, not a constant crisis response unit.
I didn’t come to this decision lightly. I’ve spent years digging into county finances, contracts, and decisions because I believe taxpayers deserve honesty—not excuses, not delays, and not decisions made out of public view.
I’m running because county government should work for residents, not insiders. Employees shouldn’t work in fear. Contractors should be held accountable. And commissioners should obey the law. When elected officials act as if they’re above it, the result is predictable: lawsuits that drag on for years and cost taxpayers real money that should be going toward services—not legal bills.
Taxpayers shouldn’t have to fight just to see where their money goes, and they shouldn’t be forced to pay for preventable legal mistakes made by their own government.
It’s time to stop managing decline and start fixing what’s broken.
LaPorte County doesn’t need grand promises or personal agendas. It needs a county government that runs competently, consistently, and professionally.
My vision is straightforward: the right people in the right jobs, hired and promoted based on competence and accountability—not ego, politics, or power.
County government should be proactive, not reactive. Planning and maintenance should prevent problems, not manage them through emergencies after the damage has already occurred.
We need realistic, accurate budgets, built to be followed—not wish lists that come back asking for more. Departments should work together, full-time, toward measurable improvements for residents.
And above all, LaPorte County should be cared for—not reshaped to satisfy someone’s personal vision. This is our home. Good government protects what works—and fixes what doesn’t.
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A county government that works for taxpayers — not insiders.
Taxpayers deserve clear, honest accounting. La Porte County is facing a serious budget gap, and long-term decisions should be made with full visibility into spending, debt, and priorities—not patched together behind closed doors.
Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be handed out through no-bid deals or emergency shortcuts. Contracts should be competitively bid, properly documented, and awarded based on performance—not insider access.
Tax incentives should produce real returns for the community. TIF districts and abatements must be used sparingly, transparently, and only when taxpayers receive measurable value—not as giveaways to companies that don’t need them.
Basic infrastructure isn’t optional. Roads, bridges, drainage, and public facilities must be adequately maintained, and contractors should be held accountable for the quality of their work.
County government should operate in the open. Decisions should be made in public meetings, with clear processes and real opportunities for residents to be heard — not surprises after the fact.
County employees should be able to do their jobs without fear of retaliation or political loyalty tests. Professional standards, due process, and competence should guide personnel decisions—not intimidation.
I’ve been digging into county government long before I ever considered running.
Jody Slabaugh
Candidate for LaPorte County Commissioner
For too long, county government has operated without consistent standards. Decisions are made based on convenience rather than outcomes, and accountability often depends on who’s watching—if anyone is.
I don’t operate that way. I come prepared, I follow through, and I expect county business to happen in public. Contracts should be earned. Spending should be justified. Employees should be treated professionally, not managed through fear or favoritism.
Long before running, Jody worked alongside residents impacted by annexation and development decisions—organizing, documenting, and challenging actions taken without meaningful public input.
Elected officials are not above the law, and taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for preventable legal mistakes. When leadership disregards sound legal advice or takes shortcuts, the outcome is inevitable: lawsuits, settlements, and the loss of public funds. I’m as careful with taxpayer money as I am with my own—because once it’s gone, it’s gone.
My commitment is simple: decisions based on what helps the public—not what protects insiders.
For thirty years, I’ve been fixing broken systems. Now I’m ready to fix one more.
For too long, county government has lacked consistent standards, with accountability determined by who’s in the room rather than what’s right.
My experience brings discipline, lawful decision-making, and accountability that doesn’t change based on convenience or politics.
I don’t ignore problems—I dig into issues, identify the root cause, and correct them. I have dedicated my entire adult life to solving problems.
I will work with people to find prompt, affordable solutions. No more Band-Aids or kicking the can down the road.
You get straight answers, not a runaround. Books will be transparent, speakers will be welcome at meetings, and there will be no more internal fighting.
LaPorte County government will work for taxpayers paying the bills—not the insiders calling the shots.
Straight from the watchdog. No spin. No filters.
November 2025
The commissioners voted 2–1 to make county spending public every month. The auditor still won’t release the reports — I’m tracking every delay and telling taxpayers what’s being kept out of sight.
September 2025
When a quorum of commissioners and department heads meets in a back room with no public notice, that’s not coincidence. I filed a complaint with the State PAC— here’s what happens next.
August 2025
I filed public-records requests for the legal bills in the wrongful-termination and email-withholding cases. Taxpayers deserve to know what they’re paying to clean up officials’ mistakes.
Real Change Takes All of Us
Fuel the watchdog campaign
I’m not backed by insiders—every dollar goes straight into voter outreach and public accountability. You’ll see exactly where your money goes, with accurate finance reports.
Show your support where it counts
A yard sign lets your neighbors know you’re in this fight to restore integrity, honesty, and transparency to county government. You’re standing with others to restore fiscal responsibility.
Help clean up county government.
I need your help—knocking on doors, talking to neighbors, spreading the word, and showing up at local events. If you want to pitch in, I’d be glad to have you on the team.
Together We Can Make a Difference
