Starke, Pulaski Election Boards Plan Hearings, Fines for Late Campaign Finance Reports

Posted on April 27, 2018 
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Candidates in next month’s primary who were late in turning in their financial reports can expect hearings before the election board and possible fines.

During Tuesday’s Pulaski County Election Board meeting, Clerk Christi Hoffa said that nine candidates turned in their pre-primary campaign finance reports after last Friday’s noon deadline. “We have to have a hearing,” she explained. “They are all given an opportunity to come to the hearing, state their case, why they were late, whatever it may be. We then have to assess the fine, which is state-set at $50 per calendar day, which includes the weekends, or we can vote to reduce or waive the fee only by unanimous decision.”

The Pulaski County Election Board plans to hold hearings later in May, after Election Day.

In Starke County, six late finance reports had been received by the clerk’s office, as of Wednesday’s election board meeting. But Clerk Vicki Cooley wasn’t sure if there were others that still hadn’t been turned in. Before the Starke County Election Board can start assessing fines, though, it has to come up with a place to put that money. “If you did decide on a fine for a person, if has to, more or less, have it approved through the commissioners,” Cooley said, “and be a line item because we can’t accept money that there’s no place for it to go to, basically.”

The Starke County Election Board voted to prepare a resolution calling for the account to be created. It will be up for approval at the election board’s next meeting.

Going forward, Pulaski County Election Board Chair Jon Frain urges candidates to obey the deadlines in the future. “If I was to be quoted on the radio at this point, I would say for all candidates to please turn in their campaign finance reports in a timely manner for the General Election, please, the pre-election campaign, all reports in a timely fashion, please,” Frain said.

Candidates in this year’s General Election will have until Friday, October 19 at noon to file their pre-election campaign finance reports.

More Starke County Officials File to Run for Reelection

Posted on January 29, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Candidate filings continue in Starke County. In the past week, Prosecutor Nick Bourff, District 3 County Council Member Dave Pearman, and Jackson Township Trustee Robert Schmidt have all filed to run for reelection.

Starke County has several contested races so far, including Sheriff, Clerk, Auditor, District 2 County Commissioner, and District 2 Council member. Three candidates are also running for Railroad Township Trustee.

The deadline for candidates to file for the May primary is February 9.


Starke County Candidate Filings As of January 26:

Assessor: Michelle Snowdon (D)

Auditor: Kasey Bula Clark (D), Rachel Milner Oesterreich (D)

Clerk: Katherine (Kay) Dolezal Chaffins (D), Vicki Cooley (D)

Coroner: Dannie Ray Hoffer Jr. (D)

Prosecutor: Nicholas Allen Bourff (D)

Recorder: Rebekah Sponaugle Wagner (D)

Sheriff: Thomas Decola (R), Bill Dulin (D)

Commissioner District 2: Don Binkley (D), Bryan Harold Cavender (R)

County Council District 1: Bradley J. Hazelton (D)

County Council District 2: Howard A. Bailey Jr. (R), Dale Conley (D)

County Council District 3: David Pearman (R)

County Council District 4: Karen Tibbs (D)

California Township Board Member: Richard Anderson (R)

Center Township Trustee: Julie Manns (D)

Center Township Board Member: Ben Warren (D)

Jackson Township Trustee: Robert Schmidt (D)

North Bend Township Trustee: Rutherford Byron Walters (R)

Oregon Township Trustee: Mark Allen (D)

Oregon Township Board Member: Joseph I Reed Jr. (R)

Railroad Township Trustee: Roger Chaffins Sr. (D), John Harris (R), Mandy Thomason (R)

Railroad Township Board Member: Bart D. Egolf (R), Joe Krzyzanowski (D)

Washington Township Trustee: Cathy Ewing Benko (D)

Washington Township Board Member: Kimberly Temple (R)

Wayne Township Board Member: Joe Griffo (D)

California 2 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Shirley Fields

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeffery J. Houston

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Rick Chambers

Center 3 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeff V. Berg

Center 5 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Kenneth Wallace

Railroad Township Democrat Precinct Committeeman: August (Gus) Eckert II

Candidate Filings Continue

Posted on January 22, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The number of contested races is starting to add up, heading into the May primary. Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin has filed to run for reelection this year. At this point, the incumbent Democrat faces a challenge from Republican Thomas Decola.

The race for Railroad Township Trustee has gotten a good amount of interest, with incumbent Republican Mandy Thomason facing a primary challenge from John Harris. Former trustee and current township board member Roger Chaffins is also seeking the seat as a Democrat.

District 1 County Council Member Brad Hazelton is seeking reelection, while Karen Tibbs is running for the council’s District 4 seat. Starke County Coroner Dannie Hoffer Jr. is also running for reelection. The races for Starke County Clerk, Auditor, District 2 Commissioner, and District 2 Council Member have all been contested since the first day of filing.

Pulaski County has a couple contested races so far. District 3 County Commissioner Mike McClure faces a primary challenge from Tyler Campbell, while Pulaski County Coroner John Behny will face Alan S. Mitchell in the May primary. Republican Tim Murray is running for Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge.  Meanwhile, Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine, Clerk Christi Hoffa, and Surveyor Jenny Keller have all filed to run for reelection, along with Winamac Town Council member Alvin Parish.

The deadline for candidates to file for the May primary is February 9.


Candidate Filings As of January 19:

Starke County

Assessor: Michelle Snowdon (D)

Auditor: Kasey Bula Clark (D), Rachel Milner Oesterreich (D)

Clerk: Katherine (Kay) Dolezal Chaffins (D), Vicki Cooley (D)

Coroner: Dannie Ray Hoffer Jr. (D)

Recorder: Rebekah Sponaugle Wagner (D)

Sheriff: Thomas Decola (R), Bill Dulin (D)

Commissioner District 2: Don Binkley (D), Bryan Harold Cavender (R)

County Council District 1: Bradley J. Hazelton (D)

County Council District 2: Howard A. Bailey Jr. (R), Dale Conley (D)

County Council District 4: Karen Tibbs (D)

Center Township Trustee: Julie Manns (D)

North Bend Township Trustee: Rutherford Byron Walters (R)

Oregon Township Trustee: Mark Allen (D)

Railroad Township Trustee: Roger Chaffins Sr. (D), John Harris (R), Mandy Thomason (R)

Railroad Township Board Member: Bart D. Egolf (R)

Washington Township Trustee: Cathy Ewing Benko (D)

Washington Township Board Member: Kimberly Temple (R)

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeffery J. Houston

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Rick Chambers

Center 3 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeff V. Berg


Pulaski County

Assessor: Lorena H. (Holly) VanDerAa (R)

Clerk: Christina L. Hoffa (R)

Coroner: John Behny (R), Alan S. Mitchell (R)

Sheriff: Jeffery K. Richwine (R)

Commissioner District 3: Tyler Campbell (R), John Michael “Mike” McClure (R)

Surveyor: Jenny Weaver-Keller (D)

Francesville Town Clerk: Cathy Lynn Elston (R)

Winamac Town Council: Alvin R. Parish (R)

Harrison Township Trustee: Betty Stinemetz (R)

Jefferson Township Trustee: Betty L. Kruger (R)

Jefferson Township Board: Roscoe “Bud” Cummins (R)

Monroe Township Trustee: Michelle Schmicker (R)

Monroe Township Board: Timothy F. Hoffa Jr. (R)

Rich Grove Township Trustee: Deloris Locke (R)

Salem Township Trustee: Kay Beasey (R)

Tippecanoe Township Board: William E. Bauer (Bill) (D), Kelli Denton (D)

VanBuren Township Trustee: Lenora K. Hoover (R)

White Post Township Board: Patricia L. Tiede (R)

Circuit Court Judge: Tim Murray (R)