As a caucus approaches Thursday, eight candidates have filed to run for Calumet Township trustee, with the latest application received 30 minutes before the deadline. Sherita Smith, Shanita Starks, Tai Adkins, McKenya Dilworth-Smith, Sharon Chambers, Glenn Johnson, Carol Ann Seaton and Linda Collins Brown are the eight candidates who filed in time, said Jim Wieser, chairman for the Lake County Democratic Party. Applications were due at 6 p.m. Monday, Wieser said. Gary Common Councilman Darren Washington, D-At Large, had previously said he was interested in running for the position, but Wieser said Washington never filed. Washington announced in a statement Monday that he wasn’t running for trustee. Washington remains committed to his role as councilman, he told the Post-Tribune, and he wants to strengthen the local Democratic party, especially following the results of the November general election. He also said he’s able to serve the city more on the council. “Our mission remains the same: safer neighborhoods, educational opportunities, and fostering economic development that will lay the foundation for lasting prosperity,” Washington’s statement said. “As we witness the state of our national politics, it is more evident than ever that we must focus our energy on strengthening our local government, and our local Democratic Party.” Post-TribuneDarren Washington speaks during a caucus to fill the at-large Gary Common Council seat vacated when Mike Brown moved to the position of Lake County Clerk in Gary, Indiana on Saturday, August 20, 2022.  (Andy Lavalley for the Post-Tribune) Gary Carter had previously expressed interest in the position, but Wieser said he never filed. Johnson and Seaton did not provide a comment about their campaigns. A caucus has to be held after ex-Trustee Kim Robinson resigned from the position. On Dec. 23, Robinson pleaded guilty in Hammond’s U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud, which can carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Federal prosecutors alleged she used $11,200 in township funds to pay rent. As part of her plea deal, Robinson resigned as trustee and chairperson for the Democratic Precincts of Gary. If her deal is accepted, she will serve one year of probation and have to repay $11,200, plus an $8,700 fine, according to Post-Tribune archives. The trustee position caucus will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave. in Gary. If an elected official were voted in as trustee, another caucus would have to be held. Gary Common Council president Tai Adkins speaks during Gary Mayor Eddie Melton’s first State of the City Address at West Side Leadership Academy in Gary on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune) Adkins is the only elected official running, as she is president of the Gary Common Council. Adkins is a Gary native who has an undergraduate degree from Purdue University West Lafayette and a Masters of Business Administration from University of Wisconsin-Madison. In a Tuesday statement, Adkins said she wants to bring her council experience to the trustee’s office. She plans to be fiscally responsible, drive innovation and lead with heart in the position, her statement said. Adkins wants to expand social services, grow workforce development programs and create new opportunities for economic development. “I believe my background, my dedication to service, and my vision for what Calumet Township can become make me the right person for this role,” Adkins said. “I’m ready to bring innovative solutions and a passion for progress to the Trustee’s office, and I’m excited about the chance to work with our community to build a brighter future for all of us.” Smith previously told the Post-Tribune that she’s been with the trustee’s office for 10 years, and she is currently the human resources manager. She spent eight years as the office’s chief of staff. If elected, Smith wants to continue the trustee’s food pantry program and expand food options, according to Post-Tribune archives. She also plans to continue the school uniform program and energy assistance program. “I would like to continue to do the great work that we’ve been doing, especially in these last 10 years,” Smith previously told the Post-Tribune. “I believe I am the best candidate for the position.” Starks, a local entrepreneur, said she wanted to run for trustee because she thinks the community is ready for change and needs people with innovative ideas and resources. Starks hasn’t run for political office, but she’s worked with politicians, including as the city’s deputy chief of staff. She has worked in different sectors, Starks said, which she believes will help her in the trustee position. If elected as trustee, Starks wants to focus on resources for the homeless population and create mentorship and internship programs for the township’s residents. She also wants to work on self-sufficiency, running a food pantry and improving public transportation. “I see what our community can be,” Starks said. “I’m going to help build it wherever I see it. The city is ready for change, and it’s time for us to wake up and allow ourselves to start putting candidates in place that are ready to serve.” Dilworth-Smith, an Ivy Tech Community College faculty member, chose to run for trustee because she “has a heart for people.” In 2006, Dilworth-Smith ran against former state Rep. Charlie Brown for his seat. If elected, Dilworth-Smith wants the office to have forensic audits and keep communication open with the public. She wants to invest in self-sustainability and work on making the township more economically solvent. Transparency is a key focus for Dilworth-Smith if she is elected. “People in Gary need to feel like their elected officials and people who hold public office do not operate under another set of rules,” Dilworth-Smith said. “Rules are for us all, and we should follow them accordingly.” Chambers, a local business owner, said she was approached by community members about the position and running fulfills a personal mission to improve Gary’s quality of life. She said she’s been disappointed with the trustee’s office in the last few years. If elected, Chambers wants to expand upon the office’s current programs, including ones that help children during the school year and community members with rent. She’s focused on helping the needs of the underprivileged, Chambers said. “The office’s purpose is to serve the people who are in need,” she added. “I’m just interested in serving my community.” Collins Brown, a former social service director and mental health case manager, said she wants to continue to serve the needs of the community. Collins Brown served as a precinct committee person and ran for Calumet Township board member in the May 2022 Democratic primary. If elected, Collins Brown wants to provide services to the underprivileged youth and families in the township, she said. Collins Brown said she wants community organizations to work with Calumet Township to provide needed services. “I want people to know where they can get services from,” Collins Brown said. “The Calumet Township office is one of those places where people can come and get housing and utility assistance and other services.” Johnson was appointed to the board of the Gary Community School Corporation by Mayor Eddie Melton in January 2024. He previously served as president of the Lake Ridge school board. Seaton lost a race for Lake County Assessor in 2010 amid a residency controversy over why she had licenses in both Indiana and Michigan and her car — with the vanity license plate SEAT0N — was registered to the address of a vacant lot in Union Pier, Michigan. Her Indiana license was suspended, and she had to prove her residency. She was the first Democrat to lose to a Republican — Hank Adams — in a race for countywide office since the 1950s. She’s also run in caucuses for seats on the Gary Council and Lake County Council. Post-Tribune archives contributed. [email protected]