County

County Council Member, Howard County

District 1

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The county council is Howard County's fiscal body: it adopts the budget, sets tax rates and approves spending.

Candidates Compare by issue

Sherry Roe

Democratic

Environmental activist and author; former corporate bookkeeper

The gist

Pledges accountability and transparency by listening to residents
Supports equipping nonprofits and food pantries to help residents
Proposes redirecting underperforming economic development spending
Opposes growth that puts profits over residents' health

More about Sherry

View sources (2)

Pledges accountability and transparency by listening to residents
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Howard County Council District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“My first priority is bringing accountability and transparency to our local government by listening to the people”
Supports equipping nonprofits and food pantries to help residents
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Howard County Council District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“ensure that our local non profits and food pantries have the tools to provide education and help”
Proposes redirecting underperforming economic development spending
Meet the candidates for Howard County Council
Candidate questionnaire · Kokomo Tribune · Apr 7, 2026 · kokomotribune.com
“We need to analyze the economic development spending, identifying underperforming programs and redirecting funds toward successful drivers of local growth.”
Opposes growth that puts profits over residents' health
Meet the candidates for Howard County Council
Candidate questionnaire · Kokomo Tribune · Apr 7, 2026 · kokomotribune.com
“We can send the message "Kokomo is open for business" but not at the expense of putting profits over people.”

John J Roberts

RepublicanIncumbent

Howard County Council member (District 1)

The gist

Pledges no wasteful spending of county tax dollars
Supports building a new jail costing about $130 million
Pledges to keep taxes as low as possible
Supports growing the industrial park area

More about John

View sources (2)

Pledges no wasteful spending of county tax dollars
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Howard County Council District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“ensuring your county tax dollars are spent properly and effectively. No wasteful spending.”
Supports building a new jail costing about $130 million
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Howard County Council District 1
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“To build a new Jail at the cost of about 130 million dollars.”
Pledges to keep taxes as low as possible
Meet the candidates for Howard County Council
Candidate questionnaire · Kokomo Tribune · Apr 7, 2026 · kokomotribune.com
“My goal is simple; to keep taxes as low as possible while providing the necessary governmental services”
Supports growing the industrial park area
Meet the candidates for Howard County Council
Candidate questionnaire · Kokomo Tribune · Apr 7, 2026 · kokomotribune.com
“growing the industrial park area would be a good thing”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.