Published: June 24, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Now that their candidate has decided to step out of the
race, the Starke County Democrats likely won’t find a replacement.
Angelo Masuka stopped his campaign for City Court Judge in
Knox after a state law was passed disallowing him from holding office without
first becoming a registered attorney with the state.
Starke County Democratic Party Chair Ken Wallace says the
change limits candidate selection.
“We’ve searched, but there’s nobody that wants it,” says
Wallance. “These lawyers aren’t going to give up their time for a position like
that. Their time is more valuable to them.”
Incumbent Republican Charles Hasnerl is grandfathered in by
the bill which stipulates that so long as he is re-elected to consecutive
terms, he may continue serving. Hasnerl is considered a non-attorney judge.
Democratic Party officials in Starke County spent time
speaking with representatives of Election Division to clarify language in the
bill. Changing the language for rural areas will be left up to the legislature,
according to Wallace.
He says he’s disappointed by the outcome.
“It’s kind of a messed up deal. Whether they’ll change the
law again: who knows?” says Wallace. “I mean, I’ve talked to several people,
both downstate and people here in the district so we’ll see what happens, but
right now I don’t see [the law] changing.”
Despite saying that a candidate is unlikely to step forward,
the Democratic Party in Starke County has until July 6th to find a candidate.
Masuka, meanwhile, has said he may go on to earn a law
degree with the hope of eventually serving in an elected position in the
future.
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