John Velasquez
A 21-year Blackford County resident and Democrat who filed for County Council District 3 in early July 2026, making the November general election a contested race against Republican nominee Deb Grider. Velasquez moved to the county in 2005, raised three children through Blackford Schools, served as Executive Director at a local healthcare facility, and has been active in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and Kiwanis International. Campaigns on servant leadership and community collaboration.
The 60-second story
John Velasquez is a Democratic candidate for Blackford County Council, District 3, in the November 3, 2026 general election. He filed for candidacy on approximately July 4-5, 2026, and announced via Facebook on July 6, making the District 3 general election a contested race. He will face Republican nominee Deb Grider, who won the May 5 Republican primary over two-term incumbent Patrick Cale.
Velasquez moved to Blackford County in 2005 with his wife Megan, whom he met in a Gerontology class at Ball State University in Muncie. The couple has raised three children through the Blackford Schools system since kindergarten. Their two oldest are Blackford High School graduates and rising sophomores at Indiana University Bloomington. Their youngest is a rising junior at Blackford High School, active in soccer, golf, and Raiders/JROTC.
Upon arriving in Blackford County, Velasquez worked as Executive Director at a local healthcare facility (facility name unverified). He has been active in the Blackford County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and Kiwanis International, and states he has served on several non-profit boards in both member and executive team capacities, including environmental, financial, and service organizations.
In his candidacy announcement, Velasquez described his approach as 'servant leadership' — focusing on positives while addressing areas needing improvement and 'fostering growth by collaborating with people and not making anyone feel inferior.' He 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.'
Quick facts
- Residence Blackford County, Indiana (since 2005)
- Party Democratic
- Running for County Council, District 3
- Opponent Deb Grider (R)
- Education Ball State University, Muncie
- Family Wife Megan; three children in Blackford Schools
Three things voters should know
21-year Blackford County resident
Moved to the county in 2005 and raised three children through the Blackford Schools system from kindergarten through high school. Two oldest are now at Indiana University Bloomington; youngest is active in sports and JROTC at Blackford High School.
Civic organization involvement
Active member of the Blackford County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and Kiwanis International. States he has served on several non-profit boards — environmental, financial, and service organizations — in both member and executive team roles.
Servant leadership platform
Campaigning on a philosophy of servant leadership that emphasizes community collaboration and finding common ground. In his announcement: 'There truly is more that we have in common than we don't.'
Biography
John Velasquez was born and raised in Indiana. He attended Ball State University in Muncie, where he met his wife Megan in a Gerontology class. The couple moved to Blackford County in 2005 and have lived in the county for 21 years.
All three of the Velasquez children attended Blackford Schools from kindergarten through high school. The two oldest are Blackford High School graduates who are now rising sophomores at Indiana University Bloomington. The youngest is a rising junior at Blackford High School and is active in soccer, golf, and the Raiders/JROTC program.
Velasquez's professional career in Blackford County began with a role as Executive Director at a local healthcare facility, a position he held starting in 2005. The specific facility has not been publicly named in his candidacy materials. He has supplemented his professional work with sustained civic involvement through the Blackford County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and Kiwanis International, and has served on multiple non-profit boards.
Memberships & affiliations
Blackford County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, Kiwanis International
Positions, in their own words
"I believe in servant leadership and have served on several non-profit boards."— Candidacy announcement, July 6, 2026
"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."— Candidacy announcement, July 6, 2026
Where the money came from
$0 raised this cycle · 0 contributions