Velasquez on November ballot for County Council District 3; wife chairs county Democratic Party

John Velasquez will appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot as the Democratic candidate for Blackford County Council District 3. He was selected to fill the seat as a ballot vacancy after no Democrat filed during the primary filing period earlier this year.

Under Indiana law, when a political party has no primary candidate for an office, the county party chair may appoint a candidate to fill the vacancy on the general election ballot. The current chair of the Blackford County Democratic Party is Megan Velasquez, according to the Indiana Democratic Party's county chair listing.

Megan Velasquez is John Velasquez's wife. He identified her by name in his July candidacy announcement post on Facebook, describing how the couple met at Ball State University and settled in Blackford County together.

The primary filing period, during which any Democrat could have sought the District 3 seat through a contested primary election, closed in February 2026. Velasquez did not file during that period.

In his announcement post, Velasquez said he moved to Blackford County in 2005 and worked as executive director at a local healthcare facility. He said he has served on nonprofit boards in environmental, financial, and service organizations, but did not name any specifically. He cited membership in the Blackford County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and Kiwanis International.

Describing his approach in general terms, "I believe in servant leadership," Velasquez wrote. "Through my experience in leading multiple boards … I focus on the positives while addressing and setting plans for the areas that need improvement. I believe in fostering growth by collaborating with people and not making anyone feel inferior."

He also wrote: "Despite all of us having different thoughts and opinions from different backgrounds it was great to see we all pretty much want the same thing, to better our community. There truly is more that we have in common than we don't."

As of publication, Velasquez has not posted or stated a public position on any specific issue that's currently top-of-mind for many Blackford County residents.

The Ledger contacted Velasquez by email and Facebook, requesting comment on multiple topics, but we've yet to hear back.

The Blackford County Council sets the county's annual budget, approves tax abatements, and holds fiscal authority over county spending. The general election is November 3, 2026.

Velasquez's Ledger profile can be found here, along with Deb Grider's.

The Ledger will publish Velasquez's responses in full if received. This story will be updated.