Randy Cassady gives remarks at the Monroe County courthouse (June 25, 2024).
David Henry at a Feb. 20, 2024 campaign event held at DeAngelo’s in Eastland Plaza.
Monroe County Democratic Party chair David Henry has notified the three-member county election board that he is challenging the candidacy of Randy Cassady, who is the Republican Party nominee for the District 2 county commissioner seat.
Henry has filed the required CAN-1 form for a challenge.
The basis of the challenge is a question about Cassady’s residency in District 2. Even though county commissioners are elected by all registered voters across the county, candidates have to have proper residency in their geographic district.
Cassady is running against incumbent Democrat Julie Thomas, who won a close primary race against Peter Iversen.
[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.
