The Starke County Election Board heard evidence from witnesses Wednesday morning challenging the address of residency of Tom DeCola as it appears on his candidacy paperwork as a Republican candidate for Starke County Treasurer.
Four challengers gave an oath and presented statements and evidence. Roger Bailey testified that there is no documentation that DeCola has a certificate of occupancy at the residence at 7410 W. 250 S. in North Judson. He also said he has driven by the residence and doesn’t believe DeCola lives there.
Cassandra Hine presented pictures of the property in question as she traveled to the residence to check on occupancy. She stated she saw wood outside for a heat source, but there was no evidence of life there. She also brought up the fact that DeCola hasn’t presented photos of the interior of his residence to show as proof.
Starke County Republican Party Chairman Dave Kesvormas presented evidence of an Indiana State Police report log that showed the officer responded to a call to speak to DeCola in rural North Judson. The officer stated that DeCola asked him to call DeCola to follow up as he was “living with his parents in Wheatfield”. Kesvormas also brought up claims of previous questions of residency when DeCola ran for sheriff.
Joanne Bailey testified that she believes that just because DeCola has bills at that address it doesn’t necessarily mean he lives there.
DeCola presented evidence of a Voter’s registration card, Bureau of Motor Vehicles paperwork, two utility bills at that residence, a VA home loan pamphlet from previous action to purchase property down the street from his listed residency, and statute pertaining to transient purposes. He testified that he can stay at his parent’s home by means of being transient.
After much discussion and other testimony, the board members voted 2-1 to deny the challenges in that the challengers couldn’t bear the burden of proof of 51 percent.
Another challenge was made by Republican Party Chairman Dave Kesvormas on the basis on if DeCola upholds the rules of the Indiana Republican Party. He cited gross misconduct affecting the party organization.
Kesvormas said DeCola attended a training session at a conference for elected officials in Indianapolis in 2018 following the election where he was elected to the Starke County Council. An alleged incident occured involving DeCola. Kesvormas produced a police report from the Greendale Police Department plus sworn witness statements concerning the alleged incident in which DeCola is accused of devious and gross misconduct. He was not formally charged in that case.
Following the alleged incident, the Starke County Council members reviewed a police report on the matter and witness statements, and voted 6-1 in a public meeting to remove DeCola from office, an action that remains in litigation today. DeCola presented the lone dissenting vote at that time.
Beyond that, Kesvormas testified that DeCola’s candidacy form wasn’t fully completed and the signatures didn’t match on all of his candidacy forms.
DeCola claims that he knows nothing of the incident and maintains that he wasn’t charged in the case.
The board members voted unanimously in favor of the challenger. This action removes DeCola’s name from the ballot as a Republican candidate for Starke County Treasurer.
Another challenge on the candidacy of Republican Lauri Anne Manns Venckus for Starke County Treasurer was heard by the board on Wednesday morning. Details of that challenge will be presented in tomorrow’s news.
