Mid-term race to watch • Budget season begins • New events at Fright Night + more!
Hey Locals,
This month, we’re focusing on two topics that make many people uncomfortable: politics and money. First up, mid-term election season is here, and we fill you in on one important race to watch: An open seat on Allen County Superior Court. Learn more about the candidates and key issues in this week’s Above the Fold.
In Briefs, city and county officials are kicking off budgeting discussions for 2027 – with some drama related to the county’s new unified Fire and EMS district. Plus, the latest on what locals have to say about Google buying up homes in Fort Wayne, and what state reporting is revealing about the data center’s water impacts.
In today’s Local Spotlight, we’re partnering with the City of Fort Wayne’s Department of Neighborhoods to promote their upcoming (FREE dinner!) Power Lab event on Oct. 29 geared toward helping locals like you build stronger neighborhoods by demystifying how things like bylaws work. Learn more below.
We also have lots of fun things to do this week, from new Fright Night events to Oktoberfest at Rudy’s and some must-try apples at a local farm named for a famous rapper!
Don’t forget: In October, we’re also partnering with Summit City Vintage to bring all paid subscribers a special deal: 10% off any purchase.
Learn how to claim your offer here.
Now, let’s get started.
NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.
Allen County Superior Court race:
What to know about candidates + key issues.
What's happening?
Early voting for the November mid-term election has begun, and last week, we attended a panel discussion* at the Allen County Prosecutor’s office between two candidates for Allen County Superior Court Judge – a significant race to watch this fall.
The event was moderated by Allen County Prosecutor Mike McAlexander, with questions by WANE 15 News Anchor Dirk Rowley and Jamie Duffy, host of a local podcast called The Probable Cause.
For a quick overview:
- Voters this fall can cast a ballot for the Allen County Superior Court spot currently held by Chief Judge Fran Gull, who will retire at the end of the year.
- The Superior Court race is non-partisan, which means candidates aren’t affiliated with a particular party (so if you vote straight ticket, you’ll still need to select a candidate).
- There are three candidates running for the seat, including: Allen Superior Court Magistrate Sam Keirns, Allen Circuit Court Magistrate Jesus “Rick” Trevino, and Allen County Deputy Prosecutor Christina Gull (who also happens to be Fran Gull’s daughter).
- Also on the ballot? A proposed amendment that would allow judges to deny bail for defendants deemed “a substantial risk to any other person or the community.”
So… what are the candidates saying? And what key issues might you consider when voting?
Stay tuned for Thursday’s newsletter – for paid subscribers only – where we’ll recap highlights from the panel, including updates on the new County Jail, funding challenges for Problem-Solving Courts, and more.
- City and County leaders tell WANE 15 they asked Google to offer to purchase homes in Southeast Fort Wayne around its data center. “We are pleased that the company is now acting on our request,” says Community Development Director Jonathan Leist. He and County Commissioner Ron Turpin say they suggested the idea to Google after residents near its data center complained about impacts on their properties. Google recently issued statements saying it plans to use the properties of homes it purchases to create a buffer zone around its data center – not to expand. Turpin and City leaders tell WANE they are also reviewing minimum buffer standards and zoning ordinances for large-scale developments in the future. WANE notes that property records show Google purchased six homes on Tillman Road in 2025, and it paid for most at about $100,000 above the assessed value.
- Related: A report by the nonprofit Free Press Indiana News shows Fort Wayne’s Google data center is one of five statewide that avoided federal water permits. The report details recent changes in federal and state legislation that paved the way for this, starting with a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act, removing federal oversight for about half of the nation’s surface waters. Before this decision, projects, including Fort Wayne’s data center, would have had to undergo more stringent federal environmental scrutiny than has been required by Indiana’s Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In 2024, Indiana also "significantly reduced” protections for state wetlands in House Enrolled Act 1383, further contributing to challenges. Fort Wayne attorney David Van Gilder was also interviewed in the report regarding the state’s backlog of wetland mitigation credits.
- Mayor Sharon Tucker’s administration presented the City’s proposed budget to City Council last week – kicking off a month of budget meetings between Council and City departments. A news release from the City says: “The property tax supported operating budget, also known as the Civil City budget, is $257.7 million. This represents a $7.2 million (2.9%) increase compared to 2026.” It also notes that it plans to adopt Indiana’s allowable tax levy to keep providing essential services under Gov. Mike Braun’s property tax reductions in SEA1. Within the City budget, the highest cost is the FWPD, seeking more than $89.2M to maintain 510 officers – including a $37,200 rent increase for a new Police outpost Downtown at The Pearl Luxury Apartment building. The FWFD is seeking to maintain 375 firefighters with a budget of $67.2M; Public Works is seeking $42M for streets, roads, and neighborhood infrastructure; Parks and Recreation is seeking $4.3M for maintenance and improvements; and Community Development is seeking $1.2M ito implement neighborhood plans.
- County Council is questioning a $48.9M budget for the county’s first unified Fire and EMS district, set to begin Jan. 1. The JG* reports that the district’s proposed budget has received some pushback due to its increased tax rate for county residents outside city limits, estimated at about $55/year on a $275,000 home, or roughly $4.58 per month. Fort Wayne Business Weekly says the overall budget has a $1.2M ( 2.6%) total increase for the five entities it combines – a move officials say will reduce long emergency wait times for county residents and extend full-time fire and EMS to about 110 sq. mi. of county property not currently protected. At last week’s meeting, a majority of residents who attended spoke in favor of the unified Fire & EMS plan. But County Councilwoman Lindsey Hammond (R-At Large) noted that the state has not yet approved the county’s appeal for more tax revenue to cover the district’s increased budget, which could create a significant shortfall if it’s not approved. She suggested delaying the unified Fire and EMS district to Jan. 2028 to allow for more time to review the plan. Council agreed to discuss the matter with County Commissioners before their Oct. 19 meeting, where they must approve all county budgets.
- Allen County Sheriff’s Corporal Ben Fries resigned from the department last week, following a petition from Sheriff Troy Hershberger seeking his termination. The petition details five incidents where Fries reportedly made light of gun violence to fellow officers and demonstrated “a desire to kill.” Fries is the son of County Councilman and former Sheriff Ken Fries (who happened to be absent from County Council last week on Wednesday). On Thursday, Sheriff Hershberger announced Ben Fries’s resignation, which prevented his termination from being considered by the Allen County Sheriff Merit Board. In a letter shared with WANE 15, Fries did not address any wrongdoing, but quoted a Bible verse and said he has “found forgiveness in my heart for those who have stood against me.” He has worked for the Sheriff’s Department since 2011 and was promoted to Corporal in 2021.
- Lake City Bank announced plans to expand its operations at Electric Works in 2027. The Warsaw-based bank will lease roughly 15,000 sq. ft. on the West Campus to house the market headquarters of its Commercial Banking and Credit Administration teams. Nearly 30 employees from those teams will be moving to campus, The JG reports.* Lake City will also open a 2,500 square foot full-service branch at Electric Works to provide “a full array of financial services to an underserved community,” according to President Kristin Pruitt. Lake City Chairman and CEO David Findlay says the bank “played a key role” in facilitating the bank financing for Electric Works, and his team is “excited to further contribute to the growth of the Electric Works community.”
What else? New leadership at the TinCaps, Citilink and more. We share additional briefs for paid subscribers only!
Extra! Extra! A couple more briefs for paid members only:
- The TinCaps announced its new GM, Jenn Sylvester – the first female GM in the history of Fort Wayne professional baseball. Sylvester is going into her 13th season with the TinCaps and replacing former GM, Mike Nutter, who remains in leadership as team president. Sylvester’s hiring makes her the 16th active female general manager in Minor League history. She will be the team’s main point of contact with their MLB affiliate, the San Diego Padres, and other general managers, The JG* reports.
- Citilink’s CEO, who led the organization through the past five years of change, resigned last week. John Metzinger, who has been an advocate for public transportation at the local, state and federal levels, says he is relocating to be closer to family. COO Pam Schieber will be the interim manager. Metzinger led Citilink as it evolved its payment system, updated routes, and upgraded rider experience in recent years.
- A 20-acre affordable housing development for seniors is progressing in Southeast Fort Wayne. Last week, the city announced Phase 3 of its Village Premier development off South Anthony Boulevard near McMillen Park. The latest phase costs $14M and includes a 48,000-sq.-ft., four-storey building with 50 units for older adults who earn 30-60% of the Area Median Income, as well as space for retail, laundry and exercise facilities. The first two phases of the project created affordable and market-rate apartments for families, as well as the Meridian Health Clinic. Future growth includes townhomes for rent and an early childhood learning center, according to plans on the city’s website.
How to build stronger neighborhoods:
Get details at the City’s upcoming (FREE dinner) event.
What’s happening?
We’re partnering with the City of Fort Wayne’s Department of Neighborhoods to promote their upcoming (FREE dinner!) Power Lab event on Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the ACPL’s Main Branch (former Maker Space room). This event is geared toward helping locals like you build stronger neighborhood organizations and better understand how things like bylaws and leadership structures work. (Read the full event description here.)
- Did you know: You don’t have to be formally involved in a neighborhood to attend! This event is free and open to anyone who wants to learn and meet other like-minded locals.
- You might remember: The Local’s Editor/Co-Founder, Kara, spoke at a Power Lab event earlier this fall. Our team appreciated how the series meets residents where they are and connects them (IRL) with other locals who can help – while providing free dinner!
Sign up now for the Oct. 29 Neighborhood Power Lab, where you’ll learn from lawyers, Benjamin Bailey and John Frandsen, about neighborhood bylaws and best practices.
- Try: Ludacrisp apples, available at Hilger Family Farm – a variety similar to Honeycrisp, known for its “explosive juiciness” with flavors of Juicy Fruit gum, pineapple, grape, and strawberry. Named for the rapper Ludacris? A sign at Hilger’s says: “Yeah!”
- Dress up: for Downtown Fort Wayne’s annual Fright Night on Oct. 17, offering a full day of activities from noon-10 p.m. We recommend:
- The Zombie Walk, starting at 3 p.m. at the ACPL Main Branch Plaza.
- The Botanical Conservatory’s new Rocky Horror Picture Show Costume Contest and Fright Night Market, 7-11 p.m.
- The Fright Night Bar Crawl (21+), 5-10 p.m., featuring several locations in a handy Survival Guide.
- Celebrate: Oktoberfest with a two-day block party at Rudy’s on Oct. 16-18, featuring seasonal brews and beats from a live DJ.
- Watch: a free outdoor screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas for Riverfront Film Nights at Promenade Park on Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. Before the movie, join the “Spirit of History Tour” at 6 p.m. to hear stories of the local haunts surrounding the park.
- Fall: into your next autumn read, at Kekionga Craft Company’s first Sip & Read Book Fair with Sunbound Books on Oct. 27, 5-8 p.m.
- Shop: at Nightmare on Berry Street at East Ende Eclectic on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., offering an evening of art and horror, with live music, vendors, a dry bar, and food trucks. ($25)
What else? Hobnobben Film Fest tips, an art-filled weekend event and more. We share additional things To Do for paid subscribers only!
Extra! Extra! Even more things To Do for paid members only:
- Save the date: for Hobnobben Film Festival at Cinema Center, Oct. 22-25, featuring local short films, a new Indiana-based feature-length documentary, “Sincerely, Ric,” and panel discussions, including one led by local Death Doula, Lauren Richwine. (tickets range $30-$200)
- Get tickets: for Little Shop of Horrors at the Three Rivers Music Theatre on Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. ($25/ticket)
- Stroll: A Renaissance in Roanoke on Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring a juried art show and vendors, a farmers’ market, food vendors, and children’s activities in Downtown Roanoke.
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Have a great week, Locals!
-Your Editor, Kara Hackett
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