Cid returns as president of Lake County Council
Lake County Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, will return to the dais for a second term as president after an interim stint in the post last year.
She previously served as the body’s elected president in 2008.
Cid, who was nominated for the job by Councilman Randy Niemeyer, R-Cedar Lake, won the seat by a 4-3 margin over fellow nominee Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, who was nominated by Councilman David Hamm, D-Hammond.
Fellow Republican Councilman Pete Lindemulder, R-Schererville, and Councilman Charlie Brown, D-Gary, voted to support Cid. Councilman Clorius Lay, D-Gary, tossed his support to Bilski.
Brown and Hamm then went on to face off for the vice president’s seat. Hamm secured the seat with a 4-3 margin. Lay and Bilski were joined by Lindemulder in supporting Hamm for the vice president’s job. Brown had the support of Cid and Niemeyer.
“… I’ve seen (Hamm) do a good job this last year. I think he would have made a good president also,” Lay said.
Cid offered thanks to Brown for his past leadership. Cid served as acting president for Brown beginning in March 2023 after Brown was sidelined for through December by illness. She also thanked the county’s department heads and employees for serving the public daily and recognized staff for efficiencies created through the use of technology and other means.
She said due to the council’s financial director Scott Schmal, the county was able to get its 2024 budget passed despite challenges with the conversion to a new accounting software that left the State Board of Accounts unable to verify account balances.
“We still face challenges,” Cid said. There are positions needing to be filled at the jail and insurance costs countywide are rising, she noted. Officials also still need to obtain accurate financial records for the Oracle accounting software.
Cid has led the body before and outlined her plans the coming year. When first elected president in 2008, it was the year the county found itself in dire financial straits and was forced to cut $15 million from its already cash-strapped budget.
“We got it done,” Cid said after the meeting.
This year her goals include creating a centralized payroll system and getting all employees and departments included in entering their time worked and paid time off in the Oracle system. She would like to see the process for appointing people to committees and boards streamlined and would like the county’s legislative committee to meet more regularly and with legislators to better represent the county’s needs.
“To my fellow councilman, even though we may have different opinions, our objective should be the same. As in the past, we must continue to work together to provide the necessary services to the citizens of Lake County. I will listen to each voice and lead with civility,” Cid said.
