Mike Wolanin | Republic The exterior of the Commons is photographed with the Bartholomew County Courthouse in the background in downtown Columbus, Indiana, on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.
More than a dozen candidates who have run for public office in Bartholomew County in recent years face potential penalties, including fines, for failing to file campaign finance reports, county elections officials said.
The nonpartisan Bartholomew County Board of Elections has scheduled hearings for 12 candidates who did not file by the deadline, according to the Bartholomew County Clerk's Office. A public hearing is scheduled for February 15th.
Under state law, candidates can be fined $50 per calendar day, up to $1,000, for filing campaign finance reports after the deadline, according to the Indiana Secretary of State's Office.
Locally, the three-member Board of Elections will not impose fines on candidates who file late reports before public hearings, said Bartholomew County Clerk Shari, who serves as the board's secretary.・Mr. Lentz stated. However, the board has not yet decided what action it will take against candidates who do not comply before the hearing.
A hearing is scheduled 29 days after the filing deadline, and candidates who don't file by then could, at least in theory, face fines of up to $1,000.
“As a board, we have never taken that action, but that is a state guideline,” Lentz said, referring to the assessment of fines against candidates. “…our goal is not to fine anyone. Our goal is to make sure everyone files a report. That’s why our board is more proactive. It’s starting to happen.”
“Our board has not yet taken any action on how that will proceed,” she added.
Most of the candidates with public hearings ran during the past two elections, although some are older than that, according to county records. Lentz said candidates who report cash on hand and do not dissolve their campaign committees will be required to file campaign finance reports annually, even if they are not on the ballot.
The candidates receiving public hearings are:
2023 Election
Brian Munoz, Democrat, Columbus City Council District 6
Christopher Rutan, Republican, Columbus City Councilman
Nick Slabaugh, Democrat, Columbus City Council District 1
Sean Barton, Independent, Mayor of Columbus
2022 Election
Laura DeDomenic, Republican, Bartholomew County Assessor
Derrick Olson, Republican, Bartholomew County Assembly District 3
Joshua Scherchel, Republican, Bartholomew County Prosecutor
Jacob Thayer Lashley, Democrat, Bartholomew County Recorder
Sharon Pursley, Democrat, Bartholomew County Auditor
2020 election
Scott Andrews, Republican, Judge Bartholomew Superior Court No. 2
2018 election
Tamara Watson, Republican, Bartholomew County Sheriff
2014 election
TA Smith, Republican, Bartholomew County Sheriff
Send a reminder
County election officials said they reminded candidates in advance of the deadline for submitting their reports, and verbally notified party chairmen on the afternoon of January 17, the deadline for submitting reports. Thereafter, certified letters were sent to a total of 22 candidates who had not submitted their reports.
Eight of these candidates, including two current Columbus City Council members and one current Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Education Commissioner, submitted their reports late. Candidates include:
2023 Election
Tom Dell, Democrat, Columbus City Councilman
Jeron Wood, Democrat, Columbus City Council District 3
Alex Engelbert, Republican, Columbus City Councilman
Kuisha Jackson, Democrat, Columbus City Clerk
2022 Election
Blake Fields, Democrat, Bartholomew County Assembly District 3
Logan Schultz, BCSC Board of Education
2018 election
Matt Myers, Republican, Bartholomew County Sheriff
David Jones, Republican, Bartholomew County Assembly District 3
Lentz said the board is simply trying to take a “more proactive stance” to ensure reporting is accurate and timely.
“Our Electoral Commission wants to be more proactive, which is why we decided to consider introducing some penalties for late reporting like this,” Lentz said. Stated. “When it's on the ballot, it's at the forefront of your mind. If you only do annual reports, it's easy to forget about them. We need someone to report to us. We'll send you a reminder every time.”
