A Republican candidate for Vanderburgh County Commissioner will stay on the May primary ballot, while a Democrat will be left off. WNIN’S John Gibson has the story:
The Election Board voted 3-0 Wednesday to allow Amy Canterbury to challenge incumbent Republican Cheryl Musgrave, despite Canterbury voting Democratic in the 2022 primary.
A state law allowed GOP Party Chair Mike Duckworth to keep Canterbury on the ballot even though she has not voted Republican in two previous primaries.
Ruth Baize of Evansville noted how recently Canterbury voted Democratic:
"This is just a very recent election. I don't know if she's Republican or Democrat. And you're wanting to put her down as a commissioner."
Meanwhile, the election board upheld Democratic Party Chair Cheryl Schultz’s move to keep Michael Lockard off the ballot because he recently voted in a Republican primary.
Lockard was not happy:
"One person gets to decide you're a good Democrat and you're not. Based on what? I don't think it’s fair."
Election Board attorney Doug Briody told Board President Joe Harrison Jr. about Indiana’s so-called two primaries law:
"If the last two primary elections in which they voted were in that party's, um, were run by that party then yes, they qualify as a member of that party. The alternative way is to have a certification of the county chair."
Briody suggested residents unhappy with the law contact their state legislators.