Samantha Kerr with B&L IT Services, feeds ballots into a scanner. In the background are B&L owner Bob White and Monroe County election supervisor Kylie Moreland. (March 26, 2024)
From left: Monroe County election board member Judith Benckart and LWV spokesperson Deborah “Ralf” Shaw. (March 26, 2024)
Seated from near to far: election supervisor Kylie Moreland, deputy clerk Ashley Lirot, and chief deputy clerk Laura Wert. Standing is Bob White, owner of B&L B&L IT Services. (March 26, 2024)
From left: election board member Judith Benckart, deputy clerk Ashley Lirot, election supervisor Kyle Moreland, and election board member John Fernandez. (March 26, 2024)
Bob White, owner of B&L IT Services (March 26, 2024)
On Tuesday morning, Monroe County’s election equipment, manufactured by Hart InterCivic, passed the logic and accuracy test mandated under state statute.
That means the machines are ready to go for the May 7 primary elections.
On Saturday afternoon, four Democratic Party candidates for the three at-large seats on the Monroe County council fielded questions at a forum that took place in the auditorium of the downtown Bloomington location of the Monroe County Public Library.
Over the course of 90 minutes, they answered more than a dozen questions that asked for their thoughts on balancing mental health services against building a new jail, financing a new jail, housing, and reducing the cost of child care, among other topics.
In the council at-large race, eligible voters in Monroe County choose up to three candidates. No Republican candidates declared a candidacy in the primary.
Vying for one of the three seats are incumbents Trent Deckard and Cheryl Munson. Hoping for their first turn of service on the seven-member county council are Matt Caldie and David Henry. Incumbent Geoff McKim is not seeking re-election.
The full forum is available on CATS. Below is a summary of just a few highlights, which are not organized in the chronological order of the forum.
The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, and cosponsored by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, Monroe County NAACP, Monroe County NOW, IU PACE, IU BIG Voting Challenge, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Tau Omega Chapter.
The positions of Monroe County chief deputy clerk and county election supervisor, which have a history of vacancies, have been filled.
From left: Monroe County election supervisor Kylie Moreland and Monroe County chief deputy clerk Laura Wert
In a news release issued on Feb. 12, Monroe County clerk Nicole Browne announced the hire of Laura Wert as chief deputy clerk, and Kylie Moreland as the county election supervisor.
After the announcement, questions were raised by the county’s legal department, about a potential residency requirement for the two positions. Wert lives in Brown County and Moreland lives in Greene County.
But guidance from the Indiana Attorney General’s office, which was received on Thursday this week, has put the matter to rest. According to county attorney Molly Turner-King, the AG’s advice “alleviates any concern from County Legal regarding these two positions.”
Moreland started work in the county’s election division as a deputy clerk in 2023. She is the staff member who has supported the work of the vote center study committee, since it was established last year.
Wert has previously worked for Brown County government in the clerk’s office and the human resources department.
[Updated on April 6, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. On April 5, 2022, Judge Nathan Nikirk ruled on the case, denying Kinser’s claim that the state election commission had concluded incorrectly that she did not meet the two-year state residency requirement. That means Kinser’s name will not appear on the ballot. Those who have already voted will not have to vote again on a different ballot.]
Still not settled, after a Tuesday morning judicial hearing, is the Republican Party’s May 3 primary election ballot lineup for the District 62 seat in the Indiana legislature’s house of representatives.
From left as they exit Monroe County’s justice center on Tuesday: Daniel Cyr, attorney for Myra Kinser, Hope Ellington, and Myra Kinser.
The question to be decided: Should Myra Kinser’s name be added back to the ballot after the four-member state election commission decided at a Feb. 18, 2022 hearing to remove it, based on a residency challenge?
Two Republican candidates are definitely on the ballot for District 62: Dave Hall and Greg Knott.
A candidate for a state house seat in Indiana must have resided in the state for at least two years and in the house district for at least one year before the election.
Challenging Kinser’s candidacy, for allegedly failing to meet the two-year state residency requirement, was Amanda Lowery, who is Jackson County’s recorder. Here’s a YouTube video cued up to the spot during the Feb. 18 hearing, when Lowery’s challenge starts: Indiana EC 2022-02-18 hearing.
The vote by state election commissioners was 3–1 to remove Kinser’s name from the ballot.
Kinser has taken the step of asking for a review of the election commission’s decision. Presiding over the 9 a.m. Tuesday hearing, held at Monroe County’s Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center, was Lawrence County circuit judge Nathan Nikirk. He was assigned as a special judge in the case after Monroe County judges recused themselves.
