Election Board Hearing 5/1/24 Dearborn County Commissioners Room
Frank Kramer, Chaired the hearing ( Republican Attorney), Wendy Beatty ( County Clerk), and Peggy Clapp (Democrat Representative for this Board??)
Also Present:
Brian DeBruler Videotaping
Sam Mortenson Videotaping
Glen Wright (County Council), Jim Thatcher ( County Comissioner) and Tamara Taylor ) Beacon
Hearing for a Complaint filed by Glenn D Wright-
ELECTION COMPLAINT SUMMARY
- THE BRIGHT BEACON CLAIMED 22,000 HOUSEHOLDS DISTRIBUTON PER THEIR INFO SENT TO ALL CANDIDATES IN THEIR MEDIA ADVERTISING PACKET.
- THE BEACON STATED TO ONE CANDIDATE THAT THEY DID NOT PREPARE ADS, THAT THE AD HAD TO BE GIVEN TO THEM IN A FORMAT READY FOR PRINTING.
- THE PROGRAM FOR THE LINCOLN DAY DINNER WAS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL PEOPLE ATTENDING. THE CENTER PAGE OF THE PROGRAM HAD AN AD THAT VIOLATED THE CODE.
- MARK DOLE, DURING THE DISQUALIFICATION HEARING OF 13 CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, STATED THEY WERE DISQUALIFIED BY PARTY RULES EVEN THOUGH 2 WERE VETERANS
- . HOWEVER, THE INDIANA ELECTION DIVISION HAS A CODE IC 3-9-3-1 THAT SPECIFICALLY DEALS WITH POLITICAL SIGNS & DISCLAIMERS REGARDING ADVERTISING WHICH WAS INCLUDED WITH INFORMATION GIVEN TO ALL CANDIDATES WHEN WE SIGNED UP TO RUN FOR OFFICE. THIS INFORMATION ALSO INCLUDES SPECIFIC PENALTIES IC 3-14-1-3 IF THIS IS VIOLATED.
- I BELIEVE THAT THE DEARBORN COUNTY ELECTION BOARD HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TREAT ALL PARTIES IN THE ELECTION FAIRLY & BE TRANSPARENT IN THEIR DECISION. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT
Marked Exhibit 1
Glenn Wright- Thanked them for their time because election integrity is important
March 20,2-24.Beacon Thatcher ad 1/2 page ad- presented with no paid for. Marked Exhibit 2
Lincoln day Dinner- ad with no paid for on it another
22,000 circulation.
State that they did not prepare ads- that the ad had to be prepared and submitted.
Mark Dole stated that party rules disqualified 13 candidates
There is also a list of rules that were given out
3-14-3-3 is what is violated,
Treat all candidates fairly- no matter what they are- Republican, Democrat or Independent.
Kramer asked Thatcher if he wanted to review the actual complaint- he said no.
All ads were approved by Jim and he said they all had those on them. Thatcher said they did have the disclaimer on them.
They have documentation and Tamara Taylor can show that.
Tamara Taylor- said she was the Owner - Publisher and Editor of the Beacon
She takes responsibility for the ads.
They take them paginate and put them into the Beacon.
March 20, 2024- Beacon- she described the entire process they use to publish- 4 people see the paper before printing. Exhibit 5 of what she sent to printer with the disclaimer on it.
Shows a page that was printed- Cannot explain the white spot on it.
Exhibit 6 is the April edition and exhibit 7 is the actual Beacon paper which is the same as exhibit 2 from Glenn Wright.
When she realized what happened she posted on Facebook that they had made the mistake. 4/19/24 posting is Exhibit 8.
In closing- the Beacon accepts full responsibility - as the owner- it is her error.
Peggy Clapp asked- What date was Facebook - (see above) What date were you contacted by Prosecutor Lynn Deddens- Taylor said April 22-3?
Glenn Wright- 22,000 ads were sent out and the Facebook retraction did not reach those people.
Tamara Taylor says the answer to the complaint is that SHE is responsible.
Now the Lincoln Day ad- from April 12, 2024 Dinner
Tamara Taylor- Steve Pope handled the printing of the ad. Exhibit 10 is the copy sent to him.
She had the copy. Made at FX Design by another woman - FX Design is a company she has had for many years.
Exhibit 11 is the copy with a color bleed that later had to be removed but it then removed the paid for section.
She is the owner of FX Design- She takes responsibility for all these mistakes also.
They were not able to produce the emails for this set of transactions. Thatcher was unable to produce any copies of his approved pdfs.
Wright noted that anyone could change the copy….
Taylor was not wanting to take any inference that she had doctored the pdfs.
Thatcher said that he had approved the ones with disclaimers.
Wright said- what would happen if any one else did this?
Board decided to deliberate now. They left for Beatty’s office to discuss. At 2:30 PM
Board returned at 2:40 PM
Kramer- we can understand why Mr Wright filed this complaint. We find Thatcher did all that was reasonably required of him. We cannot hold him responsible for what is not in his control.
Compliant was dismissed.
Brian De Bruler asked a question- in such a hearing as this- I wondered why I could not speak at this hearing. Ms Taylor had said it was not a public hearing and he didn’t think she was the person who could determine that or not.
Kramer- that would be something a lawyer could answer.
The hearing was open for the public to view, but not to comment.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
