Ellen Kapitan — President, Valparaiso City Council, At-Large
Ellen Kapitan, a Valparaiso City Council member serving At-Large, is passionate about environmental stewardship, historic preservation, pedestrian safety, transparent and accessible government, and equitable opportunities.
She believes in good government, which she defines as engagement, asking questions, listening to concerns, understanding constituents, being transparent and forward-thinking, and accepting public comment.
Ellen advocates for boldly improving life for all by investing in and nourishing the community. She serves on the Porter County Museum Foundation Board, is president of the Central Neighborhood Association, and is a fourth-year president for South Shore Roller Derby. Ellen works in administration for the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County and has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children (CASA). She is involved with the traffic and safety commission, the plan commission, and the environmental advisory board.
Her campaign website is https://www.ellenforvalpo.com/
Emilie Hunt — Vice President, Valparaiso City Council, At-Large
Emilie Hunt chose Valparaiso as her home because it embodies the values of safety, schools, and stable taxes that are most important to her and her family.
Over the last decade, she has been increasingly involved in school safety and the welfare of all children. Emilie has worked directly with local elementary schools on lockdown procedures, the alert system, and community education, and has coordinated efforts with law enforcement, giving presentations on safe firearm storage.
She believes in transparency and policies that will benefit the entire community and that the growing city should accommodate its residents without pricing them out. Emilie supports stable taxes, informed decisions, and a council that represents Valpo first. She is a member of the Boys and Girls Club PALS Board, an elder law attorney with Hodges and Davis, P.C., and has served multiple times as Judge Pro Tempore for the Lake County Superior Court.
Her campaign website is https://www.emiliehunt.com/
Diana Reed — Valparaiso City Council, District 1
Bob Cotton — Valparaiso City Council, District 2
Bob Cotton represents District 2 on the City Council and is currently in his third elected term. His family has been part of the Valparaiso community since 1969.
He believes in keeping the promise of Valparaiso alive, which entails access to excellent schools, safe streets, and a generally wholesome environment for all, regardless of background. Bob values the core principles of community, service, stewardship, civic engagement, and access to community networks as essential for vibrant governance. He is known for his unwavering stand on transparency and accountability, emphasizing that "Every Voice Counts" and assuring residents that their concerns are heard.
Bob expresses a belief that the majority of residents do not want Valparaiso to be transformed into a place resembling cities like Fishers, Carmel, or Naperville. He graduated from Immanuel Lutheran School in 1971, Valparaiso High School in 1975, and Valparaiso University’s College of Business in 1980. He had a 30-year career in financial services, retiring as a Senior Financial Consultant after working with Investors Diversified Services, Merrill Lynch, and Prudential Financial Services. Bob and his spouse, Juanita, are deeply committed to serving their community through volunteer work and have three children and two grandchildren.
His campaign website is https://robertcotton.org/
rcotton@valpo.us — FACEBOOK (campaign) — FACEBOOK (Councilman)
Barbara Domer — Valparaiso City Council, District 3
Barbara Domer has resided in Valparaiso for 32 years and raised two sons in the city. Professionally, she is an accountant and previously worked at an area school corporation, gaining experience with governmental funding, budgets, and spending.
Her involvement in the Valparaiso city government began with advocating for reforms to redistricting legislative maps and safer roads in her neighborhood. She became concerned about a perceived lack of transparency and an agenda that does not serve the current residents. Barbara believes in making Valparaiso a safer, more affordable, and inclusive community through city leadership that more accurately represents the entire community. She is concerned that current leadership is transforming the city in a way that will no longer be affordable and welcoming.
Her campaign website is https://barbaradomervalpo.com/
Jesse Harper — Center Township Trustee
Jesse Harper was first elected to the office of Center Township Trustee in 2018. Jesse is a Center Township native and graduate of Valparaiso High School. Jesse received a B.S. in Political Science from California State Northridge and a Juris Doctorate at Valparaiso University Law School. In addition to being the Trustee, Jesse currently practices law at Harper and Harper with his father and two brothers.
His official Trustee website is https://centertownshiptrustee.net/
jessebobharper@gmail.com — FACEBOOK (campaign) — FACEBOOK (Trustee)
