Trent Deckard is projected to be the Democratic nominee for the open District 1 seat on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, defeating candidate and fellow at-large county councilmember David Henry.
Deckard held 59.68% of the vote as of Tuesday evening. The unofficial results did not include provisional ballots, which usually account for a small number of the total votes cast.
The seat will be vacated by incumbent Democrat Lee Jones, who announced during her 2022 commissioner campaign that it would be her last term on the board.
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.
District 1 contains Bean Blossom Township, Indian Creek Township, Perry Township precincts 1-6, 27 and 29, Richland Township and Van Buren Township.
Deckard’s platform is based on his “Community of Care” approach, which focuses on affordability, considering health in all policies, childcare, job needs, environmental resilience and making county services and information accessible.
During a March candidate forum, Deckard said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was “Not welcome in this community as long as I am commissioner."
Deckard has worked as county council president and president pro-tempore, congressional district director and field representative for U.S. Rep. Baron Hill and Monroe County Democratic Party chair. He currently works as a faculty member at the IU Kelley School of Business.
At Kelley, he teaches 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 will face no challengers in the general election on Nov. 3.
