County

County Council Member, St. Joseph County

District C

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

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

Candidates Compare by issue

Jan Cervelli

Democratic

Professor, Saint Mary's College

The gist

Supports a ban on new or expanded data centers
Proposes ending tax abatements and nondisclosure agreements
Proposes evening and weekend hearings for working families
Proposes a county oversight body for data center problems

More about Jan

View sources (2)

Supports a ban on new or expanded data centers
St. Joseph County Council candidates speak against data centers ahead of November election
News coverage · ABC57 (WBND) · Sep 16, 2026 · abc57.com
“It starts with a ban — a ban on no new data centers or expansions”
VOTE411 Voter Guide: St. Joseph County Council, District C
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“No new or expanded data centers until that work is done.”
Proposes ending tax abatements and nondisclosure agreements
VOTE411 Voter Guide: St. Joseph County Council, District C
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Tax abatements and NDAs end. TIFs strictly limited.”
Proposes evening and weekend hearings for working families
VOTE411 Voter Guide: St. Joseph County Council, District C
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Hearings move to evenings and weekends so working families can show up.”
Proposes a county oversight body for data center problems
St. Joseph County Council candidates speak against data centers ahead of November election
News coverage · ABC57 (WBND) · Sep 16, 2026 · abc57.com
“I want to create an official oversight body by the county that will include residents and experts”

James A O'Brien

Republican

Accounting professor, University of Notre Dame; attorney and CPA

The gist

Opposes future data centers and further industrializing Granger
Opposes a tax increase for any purpose
Supports a transparency ordinance on professional-service costs
Opposes TIF or tax abatements for existing data centers

More about James

View sources (2)

Opposes future data centers and further industrializing Granger
St. Joseph County Council candidates speak against data centers ahead of November election
News coverage · ABC57 (WBND) · Sep 16, 2026 · abc57.com
“I am unconditionally opposed to any additional data centers in Granger”
VOTE411 Voter Guide: St. Joseph County Council, District C
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will oppose future Data Centers and also further efforts to industrialize Granger.”
Opposes a tax increase for any purpose
VOTE411 Voter Guide: St. Joseph County Council, District C
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“NO, I will not support a tax increase for any purpose!”
Supports a transparency ordinance on professional-service costs
VOTE411 Voter Guide: St. Joseph County Council, District C
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would advocate for a transparency ordinance, similar to one that I authored a decade ago when I served on the council.”
Opposes TIF or tax abatements for existing data centers
VOTE411 Voter Guide: St. Joseph County Council, District C
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“we should not utilize a TIF or provide property tax abatement to the existing Data Centers”

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; 4 issues covered in this race.