Trent Deckard, an at-large Monroe County councilmember, announced Thursday he plans to run for the District 1 Monroe County Board of Commissioners seat that will be vacated by Democrat Lee Jones this year.
Deckard has been on the county council since 2019. He served as president pro-tempore from 2022-23 and president of the council in 2024. If Deckard were to win, his current term, which was set to run from January 2025-29, would end and trigger a vacancy caucus.
Deckard said in a press release he plans to take a “Community of Care” leadership approach that focuses on addressing “urgent needs in affordability, childcare, health, jobs and environmental resilience.” His agenda builds on those and prioritizes making county services and information accessible.
“I wholeheartedly enter this campaign to serve the people of Monroe County as a commissioner in District 1,” Deckard said in the release. “I know the kind of leadership it takes to get people to the table – from across our many divides geographically, politically and socially – while meaningfully moving us forward towards shared solutions.”
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners is responsible for auditing and authorizing claims against the county, receiving bids and authorizing contracts, overseeing county property and maintenance of county roads and bridges, strategizing solid waste handling and appointing members for its boards, commissions and committees.
The commissioners serve four-year terms and meet weekly on Thursdays in the Monroe County Courthouse.
Deckard is a faculty member at the IU Kelley School of Business, teaching business communication. He is also a doctoral candidate at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, studying global leadership with a focus on organizational change and behavior.
Deckard formerly worked as a congressional district director and field representative for U.S. Rep. Baron Hill from 2007-11 and served as a Monroe County Democratic Party chairman from 2013-15. He also has experience working as chief of staff for Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath from 2015-17 and Democratic co-director of the Indiana Election Division from 2011-15.
Fellow Monroe County Councilmember David Henry also announced his candidacy for the commissioner position Sunday.
The two other county commissioners include Julie Thomas, who serves as the board president and represents District 2, and Jody Madeira, who represents District 3. Their terms will end in 2028.
