The race for Porter County Clerk features Valparaiso City Council member Barbara Domer, a Democrat, and Republican Jackie Haney, who serves as the chief finance deputy and is a longtime employee in the clerk’s office. The seat is open as incumbent Democrat Jessica Bailey has termed out after two terms and is now running for state comptroller.
Domer, who is three-quarters through her first term on the Valparaiso City Council, stated that if elected, she would emphasize increasing voter turnout. She has previously served with Indivisible Indiana and on the board of The League of Women Voters, a position she resigned upon winning her current city council seat by just four votes out of 1,800. Domer uses this experience as an example, stating, “I remind people of my four-vote victory on the city council.” Her campaign slogan is “Your vote is your voice,” reflecting her belief that voting is a civic duty. Domer noted that Porter County is about the middle of the pack statewide for voter turnout in a state that generally has poor participation, and she believes many residents feel their vote does not count.
To address this, Domer proposes expanding vote access by looking into opening more vote centers to replace those that have been lost. She also suggests offering more days and locations for mobile voting van visits, potentially at assisted living facilities, grocery stores, union halls during membership nights, hospital parking lots, or other medical complexes. Domer stated that expanding voting options requires effective communication regarding times, locations, and necessary voter identification. She suggested that non-profits holding meetings in October could help by distributing early voting schedules at those gatherings.
Domer highlighted her extensive career as an accountant and her experience leading financial teams and overseeing the city of Valparaiso’s finances as qualifications for the clerk’s office. She expressed a desire to build upon the office’s current successes, recognizing its integral, though often behind-the-scenes, role in residents’ lives. Domer added that she is comfortable with budgets, from preparation to presentation and advocating for additional funds, noting that “we can’t put a price on democracy” when discussing potential needs for expanding voter access.
Jackie Haney, with 30 years of service within the clerk’s office, said she offers voters continuity and a comprehensive understanding of every function of the office. Haney began her career in traffic as a teenager and has been involved in all aspects of the office since. She stated that her experience would allow her to build upon existing practices and improve them, saving taxpayer dollars by avoiding the years it would take for a new person to learn the complexities of the large office. This office includes the main clerk’s office at the Porter County Courthouse, two courts within the North County Complex, and the Juvenile Detention Center, serving a staff of over 40 people. Haney said she deals with all judges and magistrates, considering them “my people” and describing her work as a passion.
In her current role as chief finance deputy, Haney is responsible for overseeing all funds handled by the clerk’s office, preparing for State Board of Accounts audits, and assisting with daily operations and security, including staff training for child support security. She will graduate in May from Ball State University’s one-year Certificate Program in Election Administration Technology and Security (CEATS). While this marks her first time running for political office, Haney emphasized the importance of relationship building, citing her involvement with various community organizations such as Kiwanis, 500 Turkeys, HUB Coalition, Clothes & Prayers, the Porter County Parks Foundation board, the board of Family Promise, Hoosier Leadership Academy, and the Porter County Sheriff’s Citizen Police Academy, which she believes have established many useful connections. If elected, Haney intends to focus on creating a more structured training program for staff to benefit the public. She anticipates a smooth transition, stating, “I already know the ins and outs, and I can just come in and build. That’s what I want to do.”