Election Board: No reason to kick candidates off ballot in Dayton

‘It’s all about fear, I guess,’ candidate says of effort by the wife of a Dayton Town Council member to boot challengers ahead of the Nov. 7 election over paperwork issues

• Thanks for support for today’s edition from Purdue Convocations, presenting the mainstage music talent for the 28th Annual West Lafayette Global Fest. The street festival in downtown West Lafayette is a celebration of community diversity with food, activities and live music from different cultures, including Jordanian vocalist Farah Siraj – performing Arabian Flamenco jazz – and Telmary & Habanasana, Cuban hip-hop artists who will top the night off with an epic dance party. Saturday, Sept. 16, 3 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Learn More.

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• And thanks to sponsorship help from the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, presenting Art on the Wabash on Sunday, Sept. 24, a free open-air art gallery featuring 49 regional artists, live music, food trucks, beverages and children’s activities in Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette. For details, here’s your link or click the links below.

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ELECTION BOARD: NO REASON TO KICK CANDIDATES OFF BALLOT IN DAYTON

An attempt to boot two rivals from a town council election in the tiny – but often contentious – town of Dayton went nowhere Thursday, when the Tippecanoe County Election Board said the claims of paperwork errors on candidate filings weren’t enough to disqualify candidates from the ballot.

The three-member Election Board voted unanimously to reject the formal challenges lodged by Cindy Marsh, who is the wife of Dayton Town Council member Ron Koehler, and allow candidates Joy Tischer and Rocky Richards to remain among the eight independent candidates running for five at-large seats on the council.

Election Board members said that, if anything, state election law gave leeway for candidates to fix the sort to paperwork technicalities raised in this case.

“I don’t see anything, statutorily, that disqualifies someone over a paperwork error,” Randy Vonderheide, an Election Board member, said. “It seems like at least the public should have a choice to vote.”

Rocky Richards, left, and Joy Tischer, cleared to be on the ballot as candidates for Dayton Town Council. (Photo: Dave Bangert)

Tischer and Richards, both first-time candidates, weren’t asked to testify during Thursday’s hearing. They thanked the Election Board members and left the County Office Building meeting room shaking their heads.

“It’s all about fear, I guess,” Tischer said. “We have two people who really care about the town that want to run. So, why would you challenge them over something so frivolous. What a waste of time.”