Dennis Fornelli filed an appeal against the Starke County Election Board’s decision to remove him as a Republican candidate for Starke County Sheriff from the May Primary Ballot and that appeal was recently heard in La Porte Circuit Court.
As previously reported, a challenge was brought forward against former Republican candidate Dennis Fornelli for Starke County Sheriff in February. According to the challenge, Fornelli had not voted in two Primary Elections as a Republican and was not qualified to be on the ballot. Fornelli disputed that as he stated that he voted Republican in the 2020 Primary Election, but there was an issue and he had to sign paperwork in order for him to vote. The board members claimed there was no paperwork, no certificate of error found and no signature on the poll book so it appeared he did not vote in the 2020 Primary Election. Fornelli said it was poll worker error and there was a lot of confusion in the election especially with COVID, and he should be allowed to stay on the ballot. Fornelli also said that emails to Republican Chairman Dave Kesvormas were not answered about signing off on his Republican candidacy to run for sheriff.
The board ruled by a 2-1 vote that Fornelli be taken off the ballot due to his prior voting record. Board members Bernadette Welter Manuel and Chairman Marcia Bedrock voted in favor of the vote with Colleen Hodge abstaining from the vote.
Fornelli appealed that decision and the court hearing was held before La Porte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos on Tuesday, April 12. Starke County Republican Chairman Dave Kesvormas testified during the hearing as well as Starke County Clerk Bernadette Welter Manuel, Anthony Black, and Dennis Fornelli. Starke County Attorney Justin Schramm, who represented the Starke County Election Board on the matter, told WKVI News that the judge upheld the election board’s decision as Fornelli’s burden of providing sufficient evidence as proof was not met.
Fornelli provided a comment to WKVI News stating that he wanted to thank his many supporters in this endeavor and he is working on “getting on the ticket in November as an Independent Republican.” He believes injustice and bias remain on the matter.
