After seven years, Lake County Board of Elections and Registration assistant director LeAnn Angerman left her place with the elections division to begin a brand new position as regional director for U.S. Sen. Jim Banks.
Angerman’s final day with the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration was Feb. 1, and she or he begins her new place on Feb. 3. Lake County Republican Get together Chairman Randy Niemeyer chosen Jessica Messler, the Lake County Republican Get together government director, to take over as assistant director, which is held by a Republican within the bipartisan election workplace.
Round Christmas time, Angerman stated Banks reached out to her to ask if she’d like to return on as regional director. Angerman stated she took the weekend to speak to her household and pals in regards to the place and finally determined to just accept.
“It was not a simple choice as a result of I do like it right here. Elections, what we’ve labored on with all of the coaching modules, that’s my ardour. That’s what I like, so it was not a simple alternative,” Angerman stated.
Angerman and Banks have labored collectively in the identical circles for over a decade, she stated, so she’s been in a position to get to know him and his workers rather well.
As regional director, Angerman stated she is going to cowl 10 counties in Northwest Indiana as a liaison to the senator. She is going to meet with native authorities officers, financial drivers and stakeholders to relay their wants and ideas to the senator, Angerman stated.
“Though I’m extremely anticipating working for Senator Banks and his group, leaving the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration was the toughest factor I’ve ever finished,” Angerman stated in a launch.
Angerman stated she appreciated working with former Lake County Republican Get together Chairman Dan Dernulc and Niemeyer. The election board and workplace workers “are a few of the most proficient and devoted folks” she’s met or labored with, Angerman stated.
“Working collectively, no matter social gathering affiliation, is the place the rubber meets the street and I used to be so pleased with this complete group for doing that. The voters of Lake County will at all times be a precedence to me,” Angerman stated within the launch.
Throughout her time within the election workplace, Angerman stated she was most pleased with attending coaching that led her to turn into certainly one of solely three election directors within the state who’re licensed on each the state and nationwide ranges
Firstly of her tenure, the workplace accomplished a mid-year reorganization that resulted in raises that didn’t enhance the workplace’s total funds, Angerman stated. She had her hand within the workplace’s branding and lapel pin undertaking, in addition to organizing a multi-agency emergency preparedness and bodily safety coaching for the workers and companies from different counties, she stated.
Angerman stated she’ll always remember working two elections in a presidential yr amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Lake County Board of Elections and Registration Director Michelle Fajman stated Angerman saved the board members and workers secure on Inspector Saturday forward of the 2020 common election when protestors marched to the county constructing and began banging on the home windows.
“We’ve been by way of an entire heck of so much collectively,” Fajman stated.
Most not too long ago, Angerman had a hand within the election official, voter, ballot employee and election administrator manuals which earned a CLEARIE award from the U.S. Election Help Fee.
“I loved doing the tasks. I loved making ready for the elections and the logistics that had been included in that. In elections, what you do modifications virtually every day,” Angerman stated. “The job itself modifications ceaselessly, so that you don’t get bored, ever.”
Fajman stated whereas she and Angerman have totally different political backgrounds, they labored rather well collectively as a result of “at coronary heart, what we each care about is that there’s honest and equal elections for everyone.”
“We’ve been collectively from pandemics to presidential elections, however what I worth most is our friendship,” Fajman stated. “I don’t assume she’s ever going to get elections out of her blood. I feel she’s discovered an actual ardour for it, and that isn’t one thing that’s ever going to depart her.”
Brad King, co-director of the Indiana Election Division, stated within the launch that Angerman embodied “grace underneath stress and dealing efficiently and cooperatively with many alternative folks to realize consensus and enhancements to the election course of.”
“That’s no small achievement on the earth of elections in 2025. Her efforts have supplied fashions for different counties all through Indiana to make use of and enhance elections of their explicit circumstances,” King stated.
Niemeyer stated within the assertion that Angerman exhibited “integrity and professionalism” whereas serving as assistant director.
“I’m grateful for her steadfast dedication. Senator Banks and the folks of Northern Indiana will probably be properly served in her new position,” Niemeyer stated.
Throughout the election board’s January assembly, board president and Democratic member Kevin Smith thanked Angerman for all she’d finished for the workplace and serving to it turn into extra environment friendly.
“The election board, the election division and the board of elections and registration division is best off due to you and your work,” Smith stated.
Republican board member Michael Mellon stated Angerman was “a vibrant shining star” among the many folks he has labored with within the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration. Angerman was identified for working in a bipartisan style inside the workplace, he stated.
“We’ve misplaced a serious contributor to that complete course of,” Mellon stated. “It’s thrilling for you, however it’s unhappy for us. Thanks very a lot. It’s been an incredible run, and I feel we’re a greater group for having labored with you.”
Messler, who works in media manufacturing and marketing campaign administration for political candidates, stated she seems to be ahead to taking up the position of assistant director. Along with her media manufacturing background, Messler stated she seems to be ahead to creating ballot employee and voter coaching movies and rising the workplace’s presence on social media.
“I’m grateful for the chance to help Lake County residents in changing into extra aware of and lively within the elections processes and I stay up for helping the workplace workers in making certain free and honest elections,” Messler stated within the launch.
Agnerman has been coaching Messler for the position the final two weeks or so. Messler stated Angerman has been advising her on so much in regards to the position, together with the significance of working with the workers and serving to anybody who comes into the workplace with questions.
Niemeyer stated Messler will carry “a substantial amount of expertise” into the position as officers “look to construct upon our success as a group in Lake County elections.”
Messler stated she’s met with Fajman just a few instances already and so they appear to work properly collectively. Fajman stated Messler will carry a powerful set of expertise to the position, together with video and social media.
“I’m excited for her to return on board,” Fajman stated. “She’s obtained a superb head on her shoulders. She’s prepared to leap in.”
akukulka@post-trib.com
