Ed Soliday

Ed Soliday was born in 1945 and graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1963. He served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970, achieving the rank of warrant officer and flying helicopters in Vietnam. Soliday spent over three decades in the aviation industry, starting as a pilot for United Airlines and rising to an executive position. These experiences collectively established a robust foundation in leadership, risk management, and operational oversight.

Ed Soliday's political identity is marked by a staunch opposition to municipal revenue increases, a stance crystallized in his 2025 text to Portage Mayor Austin Bonta. His background as a Vietnam War veteran and long-time executive at United Airlines suggests a deeply rooted skepticism toward government intervention, particularly in economic matters. Soliday's approach reveals a calculated effort to protect regional industrial interests, as seen in his criticism of Mayor Bonta for allegedly hindering utility pay increases. This blend of fiscal conservatism and a protective stance on local business interests presents an intriguing tension in his policy framework.