Chuck Watterson IV (LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney, Indiana, candidate 2026)
Chuck Watterson IV (Republican Party) is running for election for LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney in Indiana. Watterson is on the ballot in the Republican primary on May 5, 2026.[source]
Watterson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
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Click here to view Ballotpedia's local election coverage in Indiana by county in 2026.
Biography
Chuck Watterson IV provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on March 23, 2026:
- High school: LaPorte High School
- Bachelor's: Purdue University, 2013
- J.D.: Valparaiso Law School, 2017
- Profession: Attorney
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney
John Lake (D) is running in the Democratic primary for LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney on May 5, 2026.
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| John Lake | ||
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney
Sean Fagan (R) and Chuck Watterson IV (R) are running in the Republican primary for LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney on May 5, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Sean Fagan | ||
| Chuck Watterson IV | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Chuck Watterson IV completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Watterson's responses.
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- I will lead from the front. The prosecutors office has lacked a true leader for the last 3 years. I promise to lead from the front and be right in the trenches with my deputies. Trial is my passion and you would have to drag me out of the court room to get me to stop doing trials. Leading from the front means that my deputies know that I will not ask them to do anything that I wouldn't do or haven't done before. They will see me right by their side every day. This is not an administrative position because out county can't afford a prosecutor that doesn't try cases. The prosecutor has to wear both hats, and I am the one capable of doing that.
- Work place environment. When elected, the hostile work environment will be gone. No longer will the employees of the office be scared to come to work or do their jobs. Everyone will be treated with respect and not looked down upon. Deputies will no longer be scared to go to trial because they fear the outcome and what the prosecutor will do to their position. The work place will become a place where everyone likes coming to work everyday and not a place of dread.
- Tough on crime. When elected, my office will not look for reasons to offer a plea agreement just because its the easiest route. LaPorte County will gain a reputation of a County where you do not want to commit a crime. We will become an office that is not scared to take a case to trial if the desired outcome is not agreeable between the parties. We will put victims first and do the work. The office will be prepared and ready every day to be victorious in the battle against crime.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Watterson's campaign website stated the following:
I am running for County Prosecutor because our community deserves a justice system that protects victims, holds offenders accountable, and applies the law equally to everyone. The Prosecutor’s Office must be guided by ethics, professionalism, and a clear focus on public safety—not politics.
My approach to prosecution is balanced and thoughtful. I believe our highest priority should be addressing violent and repeat offenders, while also supporting crime prevention efforts, responsible use of taxpayer resources, and decisions grounded in evidence and the rule of law. As Prosecutor, I will work to strengthen partnerships with law enforcement, improve transparency, and engage more directly with the community we serve.
An informed community is a stronger community. Too often, misunderstandings about bonds, plea agreements, and charging decisions erode public trust. I am committed to helping explain how the criminal justice system works and why decisions are made. Transparency builds confidence, and trust in the integrity of the Prosecutor’s Office is essential.
Effective leadership starts within the office itself. I believe in leading by example and fostering a professional, supportive environment where deputy prosecutors and staff are empowered to do their best work on behalf of La Porte County.
— Chuck Watterson IV's campaign website (March 30, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
