A vocal critic of mask mandates has been appointed to the Porter County Board of Health. The county commissioners Monday replaced three of the board's seven members.
Commissioner Jim Biggs said the reason for the shakeup was to bring in members from outside the Valparaiso area. But his list did include one Valparaiso resident: Jessica Jepsen.
"Jessica holds an MBA and a BS, which is an undergrad degree, in health care administration. She works for a global network of over 200 different chiropractic offices," Biggs explained.
Jepsen repeatedly spoke out against Valparaiso Community Schools' former mask mandate during school board and other government meetings.
The other new Board of Health members are neurological surgeon Dr. Ron Michael of Chesterton and registered nurse Robyn Lane of Liberty Township.
Commissioner Laura Blaney voted against all three of the new appointments, saying she didn't want to knock people off the board, if they were doing a good job and still wanted to serve. "And they saw us through the difficult waters of COVID," Blaney added.
