The Starke County Election Board members opened a public hearing Wednesday morning to hear testimony from candidates who filed Primary Election financial reports later than the deadline date of April 20, 2018. Of the eight candidates who were late with their reports, only three appealed their fines. The remaining candidates paid their non-compliant $50 daily fine in the clerk’s office without further objection.
Evelyn Trusty, a Democratic candidate for California Township Trustee in the May Primary Election, testified that she was eight days late in filing her reports as she was working double shifts and was unable to make it to the courthouse. She is no longer a candidate for the November General Election. This was her first time running for office.
Clerk Vicki Cooley made a motion to reduce her $400 fine to $50 seeing as she’s a first-time candidate and the fine would create a hardship. Board member Peg Brettin seconded the motion. When it came to the vote, Board Proxy member Dan Bridegroom opposed the vote.
In the action of a formal decision concerning financial reports, it has to be a unanimous decision of the board per state law. A call was made to Indiana Election Division Counselor Dale Simmons who said in this case, another motion could be made for the full payment of the fine. If that does not gather a unanimous vote, it then becomes a matter of limbo and there is no fine to be paid.
Bridegroom made the motion for Trusty to pay the full fine saying that candidates know about the report deadline when given their packets at the time they file. He also said they should stick with the law and let the candidates know they are serious when it comes to these deadlines. Bridegroom’s motion died for a lack of a second so there was no order of finding.
Dannie Hoffer, Jr., a Democratic candidate for Starke County Coroner, was four days late in filing his report. He stated on the deadline date he was at the scene of a fire and could not get to the courthouse in time to file the paperwork. He did file it the Monday following the Friday, Apr. 20 deadline. He does remain on the ballot for the November General Election.
Cooley made an amended motion to reduce his $200 fine to $100 which was seconded by Brettin. Bridegroom opposed the motion. Another motion was made by Bridegroom for Hoffer to pay the entire fine which failed for the lack of a second so there was no order of finding.
The third candidate scheduled to testify had to reschedule so that hearing was set for Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. in the second floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse.
