Dennis Layman
Lifelong Blackford County resident running as an independent for Commissioner, District 2. A persistent public commenter at commissioner, council, and drainage board meetings since at least January 2024, Layman built his candidacy around demanding questions officials do not ask: he collected 850+ signed petitions against the Blackford County Sewer District, pushed for battery storage and data center moratoria, and challenged county spending on line-of-sight internet towers. Previously ran for county council at-large in 2024. Campaigns exclusively door-to-door.
The 60-second story
Dennis Layman is running as an independent candidate for Blackford County Commissioner, District 2, in the November 3, 2026 general election. He will face Republican nominee Shane Smith, who won the May 5 Republican primary. Layman is one of two non-Republican candidates on the ballot for any Blackford County local office in 2026.
Layman is a lifelong Blackford County resident who has been a fixture at commissioner, council, and drainage board meetings since at least January 2024, attending more than 30 documented meetings across all three bodies. He previously ran for county council at-large in 2024 but did not win a seat. His candidacy grew out of frustration with what he describes as officials who rubber-stamp proposals without asking questions, and his belief that public commenters are ignored when they stand 'outside the arena.'
His public record is defined by sustained advocacy on several fronts: he collected over 850 signed petitions opposing the formation of the Blackford County Sewer District (filing them with IDEM under IC 13-26-2-3.5), pushed for and eventually helped secure moratoria on battery energy storage and data centers (Resolutions 2025-R9 and 2025-R10), challenged county spending on line-of-sight internet towers he called 'a dinosaur,' opposed using taxpayer money to purchase a failing local golf course, and questioned whether tax abatements should be awarded to companies before they have proven themselves to the community.
Layman campaigns exclusively door-to-door, rejecting social media as a campaign tool. He prefers face-to-face conversations with voters. He drove a tractor with his campaign sign in a local parade and describes himself as 'a thorn in their side' who 'only speaks about things that I have the facts.'
Quick facts
- Residence Blackford County (lifelong resident)
- Party Independent
- Running for Commissioner, District 2
- Opponent Shane Smith (R)
- Prior run County Council at-large, 2024 (unsuccessful)
- Campaign style Door-to-door only — no social media
Three things voters should know
850+ petitions against the sewer district
Collected and filed over 850 signed petitions with IDEM opposing the formation of the Blackford County Sewer District, representing a majority of property owners in the designated areas of the Commonwealth Engineers' plan.
Pushed for battery storage and data center moratoria
First requested a battery storage moratorium in May 2025 (denied), then continued advocating until Resolutions 2025-R9 (battery storage) and 2025-R10 (data centers) were passed in November 2025. Urged the resulting ordinances make the prohibitions permanent.
Challenged internet tower spending
Confronted VCEDC director Warren Brown publicly about five county-funded line-of-sight internet towers, arguing they were obsolete given fiber optics, could not serve residents behind wooded areas, and represented wasted grant and tax money on technology with no viable commercial interest.
Biography
Dennis Layman is a lifelong Blackford County resident. His children graduated from Blackford High School and have since moved away from the county, a fact Layman cites as emblematic of the county's economic decline and lack of opportunities for younger generations.
Layman's professional background is not extensively documented in public meeting records. He has demonstrated detailed knowledge of agricultural drainage law and tile systems (citing specifics at drainage board meetings), county fiscal processes, and the mechanics of Indiana land-use and environmental regulation. He has described himself as someone who researches facts before speaking publicly and who has lived in the county long enough to remember when Hartford City and Montpelier were 'booming' with local businesses — Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, multiple grocery stores, and small-town shops across Raw and Trenton.
Positions, in their own words
"I have over 850 signed petitions against this and then these are a majority from the designated areas of the engineer plan from the Commonwealth Engineering."— 2025-09-17 Joint Special Council/Commissioners meeting
"The ordinance should state no battery storage. And also the resolution on data centers should be the same — no data centers."— 2025-11-17 Commissioners meeting
"Abatements to me is like an award — why are we rewarding companies before they even come in? I feel like companies should be rewarded after they've proven themselves to our community."— 2026-02-04 Council meeting
"I am not one for nondisclosure. I don't believe in that. You work for the public. You don't work for a salesman."— Interview with the Ledger
"So I cornered Mr. Brown one night about our five internet towers, which is a hoax. We have wasted good tax money on something that's a dinosaur."— Interview with the Ledger
"It is not a government taxpayer deal to buy a golf course."— Interview with the Ledger
"The taxpayers are already in a struggle."— 2025-11-05 Council meeting
Where the money came from
$0 raised this cycle · 0 contributions