John Lancaster
President of the three-member Blackford County Board of Commissioners and chair of the County Drainage Board. Chaired the county's wind/solar ordinance-update committee and presides over Blackford's renewable-energy permitting decisions — while drawing repeated public pressure over project compliance and his refusal to pause new wind and solar approvals.
The 60-second story
John Lancaster is the Republican President of the Blackford County Board of Commissioners, the county's three-member executive body, and also chairs the Blackford County Drainage Board. The board retained him as president for 2026 alongside Vice President Dan Borgenheimer and Commissioner Laura Pierce Coons, and the Drainage Board kept the same officers at its January 5, 2026 annual reorganization.
He chaired the multi-week county committee that worked to rewrite Blackford's wind and solar ordinance in 2025 and is the central figure in the county's renewable-energy permitting — the RWE Prairie Creek wind project, the Lake Trout (EDF) and Blackford Solar (Leeward) solar projects, and the EDP / Teays River wind farm. Through 2026 the board has continued authorizing developer negotiations and agreements, voting on June 15, 2026 to approve the RWE Prairie Creek Phase 2 economic-development agreement (Resolution 2026-7) and a 58.8-mile road-upgrade plan.
Lancaster cast the lone “No” in September 2025 when the board approved a developer-funded reimbursement agreement before a new ordinance was in place, but he has repeatedly declined public requests to impose a moratorium on new wind and solar projects. Through the spring and summer of 2026 he faced sustained public criticism — led by resident Deb Grider — over the county's handling of Lake Trout Solar's construction-timeline compliance, asymmetric enforcement between developers, and the unfinished ordinance; he committed in May 2026 to a 30-day response on the Lake Trout questions.
Quick facts
- Current role President, Blackford County Board of Commissioners
- Also serves as Chair, Blackford County Drainage Board
- Committee Chaired the county Wind/Solar Ordinance Update Committee (2025)
- Board reorganization Retained as President for 2026 (Jan. 5, 2026)
- Party Republican
- Jurisdiction Blackford County, Indiana
- Fellow commissioners Dan Borgenheimer (VP); Laura Pierce Coons
- Note Distinct from Roger Lancaster, a Montpelier-area landowner
Three things voters should know
He leads both the board and the Drainage Board
Lancaster is president of the three-member Commissioners and chair of the County Drainage Board, concentrating county executive and drainage authority in one seat.
He chaired the wind/solar ordinance rewrite — still unfinished
He led the 2025 committee that drafted a new wind and solar ordinance, yet the board has approved developer economic-development agreements while that ordinance remains incomplete, drawing repeated public criticism.
He broke 2-1 with his colleagues once on process
Lancaster cast the lone “No” on the EDP / Teays River reimbursement agreement in September 2025, citing a promise not to sign deals before the new ordinance was in place.
Biography
Lancaster presides over the Board of Commissioners, which functions as Blackford County's executive branch — administering roads and bridges, county contracts, appointments, claims and payroll, and county property. The board reorganized on January 5, 2026 and kept him as president.
As Chair of the Blackford County Drainage Board, he presides over ditch reconstruction and maintenance assessments, tile vacations, and stormwater matters — including the county's drainage and stormwater five-year plan.
In 2025 he chaired the county's wind/solar ordinance-update committee, which spent several weeks drafting a revised ordinance that was presented to the Area Planning Commission. Lancaster is a distinct individual from Roger Lancaster, a Montpelier-area landowner who shares the surname.
Career
Memberships & affiliations
Blackford County Board of Commissioners (President), Blackford County Drainage Board (Chair), Wind/Solar Ordinance Update Committee (Chair, 2025)
Potential conflicts the Ledger has flagged
At the September 2, 2025 Drainage Board meeting — which he chairs, and which rules on ditch and septic-related matters — Lancaster disclosed on the record that he pumps septic tanks, including two collapsed tanks the prior year for properties near the Goldwood Ditch then under assessment. No formal recusal was noted on the record.
Notable votes
Positions, in their own words
"Well, I appreciate that, but I'm not going to."— Commissioners, May 4, 2026 (responding to a moratorium request)
"That is not what I want. It should say no new for a time period."— Area Planning Commission, Aug. 28, 2025
"we did promise that we wouldn't sign any agreements until a new ordinance was in place. And that is not in place."— Commissioners, Sept. 2, 2025
"Are there safety concerns? Yes, there are safety concerns when you get in the car every day... things happen."— Commissioners, Aug. 18, 2025