Ballotpedia

Joseph Wanderlust (Libertarian Party) is running for LaGrange County Council, District 2 in Indiana.

Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey Responses (2026)

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a freedom-loving father and entrepreneur committed to building a better tomorrow for our children by strengthening today.

Raised with a deep appreciation for individual liberty and personal responsibility, I believe that government should protect our God-given rights rather than expand its control over our lives. As a dedicated father, I’m driven by the conviction that the decisions we make today will determine the opportunities our children inherit tomorrow.

I’m running for LaGrange County Council because I refuse to accept the status quo of ever-growing government, rising costs, and declining opportunity. I believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, strong families, and an America where every parent can confidently tell their children that the best days are still ahead.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

“Government is not the solution to our problems; it has become the problem. It’s time to right-size it and live within our means.” I will fight for smaller, more efficient government and true fiscal responsibility by:

• Cutting wasteful spending and eliminating duplicative programs that deliver little results
• Opposing new taxes and working to lower the tax burden on working families and small businesses
• Demanding accountability and transparency so every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely
• Prioritizing essential services, seeking creative voluntary funding, while getting government out of areas where it doesn’t belong

Limited government isn’t just a slogan. It’s the proven path to liberty, opportunity, and a brighter future.

“True freedom means every person has the right, and the responsibility, to build the life they want without government standing in their way.” America’s greatness comes from free people making free choices. When individuals and businesses are left to innovate, compete, and succeed (or learn from failure), entire communities thrive. Yet today, excessive regulations, taxes, mandates, and government overreach are choking opportunity, driving up costs, and punishing those who work hard to get ahead. I will advocate individual liberty and economic freedom via:

• Cutting burdensome regulations hurting small businesses & raising family costs
• Expanding school choice for parents
• Removing federal perversion from our family courts

“Parents, not government bureaucrats, know what is best for their own children.” I believe the family is the foundation of a strong society. Government should protect families, not replace them. Too often, politicians and unelected officials insert themselves into our homes, schools, and medical decisions, undermining parental authority and eroding the values parents want to pass on to their children. I will defend the right to parent and strengthen families by:

• Protecting parental rights in education, healthcare, and all decisions affecting our children
• Opposing policies that allow schools or agencies to withhold information from parents
• Ensuring child protective services focus on real abuse, not targeting responsible parents

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. Smaller Government & Fiscal Responsibility
2. Individual Liberty & Economic Freedom
3. Parental Rights
4. Second Amendment Rights
5. Free Speech & Against Censorship
6. Energy Independence
7. Healthcare Freedom (against mandates, for choice & transparency)
8. Cutting red tape for local Family Farms

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, courage, and a deep respect for limited government and individual liberty. Remember we serve the people… not the other way around.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Senator Rand Paul and strive to follow his example in public service. Rand Paul is a consistent, principled voice for limited government, individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility. He has repeatedly stood up to both parties when they’ve tried to expand government power, grow the national debt, or erode our freedoms.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be remembered as someone who:

• Left government smaller, more accountable, and less expensive than he found it
• Defended the individual liberties and economic freedoms that allow families and small businesses, especially family farms, to thrive
• Stood firmly for parental rights so moms and dads, not distant bureaucrats, make the important decisions for their children
• Proved that principled conservatism can deliver real results for working families

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the biggest struggles I’ve faced was suffering a bilateral disc herniation that left me in severe pain and unable to continue my previous work. That injury forced me to adapt, become resourceful, and ultimately start my own business from the ground up.

It taught me the power of self-reliance, creativity under pressure, and the importance of economic freedom. When government regulations, taxes, and red tape make it harder for people to pivot, innovate, or provide for their families, it doesn’t just hurt businesses; it hurts real people trying to overcome hardship. I understand firsthand how critical it is to keep government from standing in the way of opportunity.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

County office is one of the most unique and impactful positions in local government because it is the level closest to the people where real decisions about daily life are made, and where accountability is most direct.

It serves as a vital check against overreach from higher levels of government. We can resist unfunded mandates and protect local priorities instead of blindly following dictates from Indianapolis or Washington.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Represent the people faithfully, protect their freedoms, and be a responsible steward of their tax dollars.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

One of the most important but often overlooked responsibilities of county office is the duty to plan, prioritize, and fully budget for our local infrastructure and essential services rather than constantly chasing state and federal grants and handouts.

Too many local governments have fallen into the habit of depending on “free” money from higher levels of government. What most people don’t realize is that this money almost always comes with strings attached; mandates, priorities set in Washington or Indianapolis, and the risk of sudden cuts when political winds shift. This makes our communities vulnerable to outside manipulation and leaves us less in control of our own future.

As county leadership, we have both the power and the responsibility to:

• Create realistic, long-term budgets based on our actual needs and local revenues
• Make tough spending decisions and set clear priorities instead of kicking the can down the road
• Maintain fiscal independence so we can respond quickly to local problems without waiting for permission from distant bureaucracies

Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey
(Used under GNU Free Documentation License with attribution)