Allen County Commissioner Rich Beck Jr. (R-3rd) announced today that he will not seek re-election for a third term as Commissioner in 2026.
News release from Allen County Commissioner Rich Beck:
Beck will not seek re-election in 2026
Two-term Commissioner to retire after life of serviceFort Wayne, Indiana (January 9, 2026) – Allen County Commissioner Richard “Rich” E. Beck Jr. announced today that he will not seek re-election for a third term as Commissioner in 2026. “I have spent my entire adult life in service to the people of Allen County, both personally and professionally,” Beck shared. “At 73, I’d like to focus my time on the things that matter most to me, my wife, kids, and grandkids. It has been an honor to serve the last seven years as County Commissioner for District 3. I think my colleagues and I have tackled some tough topics over the last few years and I’m immensely proud of the work we’ve accomplished for Allen County.”
First elected as a county commissioner in 2018, Beck began his life of public service in college at Ball State University, volunteering as a Big Brother in Grant County. He was part of the first class of Allen County Sheriff Reserve Officers in 1975, an affiliation he would maintain for over 45 years. In addition to all the boards and commissions he has served on due to his role as a county commissioner, Beck has served with distinction on the Allen County Redevelopment Commission, the board of Fort Wayne Construction Trades Development, Inc. (connected to the FWCS Career Academy), and the Allen County Public Library Foundation. A longtime equestrian, Beck has also served on the boards of the Summit Equestrian Center and Three Rivers Horse Trails. “I have enjoyed volunteering with non-profits and serving on their boards,” Beck noted, “It is important for all of us to use our skills, talents, and passions wherever we can to help our community. I always want to leave a situation better than I found it. That’s true of my time volunteering, as well as my time as an elected official. I truly believe I’m leaving this office better than I found it.”
Prior to his role as County Commissioner, Beck completed a four-decade career in the banking industry, first with Fort Wayne National Bank in 1975 and then retiring from STAR Financial Bank in 2018. He is regularly called upon to teach banking classes in several states each year and has authored four editions of a textbook on consumer lending. “I often call myself a recovering banker. But the truth is that the customer service and management skills I learned working with clients and employees prepared me well for my time as an elected official.”
A longtime resident of Lafayette Township, Rich and his wife Sylvia have enjoyed the predominantly rural southwest corner of Allen County, which has allowed them to take advantage of city amenities, but also run a small farm and care for horses and other livestock. With 4 children and 13 grandchildren spread across the country, Beck noted, “I’m not ready to slow down, but I am ready to set my own schedule. I’ll continue to serve my community in whatever ways I can, but I am looking forward to more time with family, and more time in the saddle riding trails.” Beck will continue as Allen County Commissioner through the end of his current term, which ends December 31, 2026.
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