Trustee posts draw interested candidates; list of filings grows
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Even before former Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising lost her post after felony theft convictions, others were eying her job.
Two weeks into the filing period for the May 3 primaries, one person, Republican Eric Hoppenjans, is officially vying for trustee of Wabash Township. Interim trustee Angel Valetìn, sworn in the day after Teising's Jan. 5 conviction, expressed his intent to run for the post but as of Friday had not filed paperwork with the Tippecanoe County clerk's office to run in the Democratic Primary.
Three people have also filed for a chance at Fairfield Township trustee, held by another embattled politician, Taletha Coles. Two individuals are running in the Democratic Primary, another in the Republican Primary.
Coles, like all interested candidates, still has until Feb. 4 to file paperwork to run again. She had yet to file financial reports from previous campaigns.
More: Fairfield Township trustee's campaign financial reports not filed
A Tippecanoe County Election Office report indicated Coles did not file the 2018 pre-primary finance report, the 2018 annual finance report and the 2020 annual finance report, according to a previous J&C article.
In addition, her 2018 pre-election finance report and her 2019 annual finance reports, according to the election office, are defective.
Coles is also under scrutiny for not supplying detailed receipts for credit card charges made on the township account. The Indiana public access counselor published an advisory opinion saying the newspaper — and the public — have a right to see those detailed credit card statements.
Teising's felony theft convictions involved paychecks she received while living outside of the township. A J&C investigation started in December 2020 discovered Teising in an RV park in Panama City Beach, Fla.
As of Friday afternoon, the following individuals have filed with the Tippecanoe County clerk's office:
Democratic Primary:
Chris Campbell, State Representative, District 26
Eric Grossman, Assesor, Wabash
Ben Murray, County Council, District 1, Fairfield
Lisa Dullum, County Council, District 4, Wabash
Monica Casanova, Fairfield Township, Trustee
Ronald Hession, Fairfield Township, Trustee
Peter Bunder, Precinct Committeeman, Wabash
Chris Campbell, Precinct Committeeman, Wabash
Michael Childress, Precinct Committeeman, Wea
Lisa Dullum, Precinct Committeeman, Wabash
Steve Durbin, Precinct Committeeman, Wabash
Germany Harris, Precinct Committeeman, Wabash
Ronald Hession, Precinct Committeeman, Fairfield
Joe Mackey, Precinct Committeeman, Perry
Ben Murray, Precinct Committeeman, Fairfield
Bob Goldsmith, Sheriff, Perry
David Tate, Wabash Township, Board
Republican Primary:
Sharon Negele, State Representative, District 13
Richard Bagsby, State Representative, District 41
Shane Weist, State Representative, District 41
Ronnie J. Alting, State Senator, District 22
Spencer R. Deery, State Senator, District 23
Rep Jim Baird, U.S. Representative, 4th District
Charles Bookwalter U.S. Representative, 4th District
Joe Sturm, Auditor, Lauramie
Tracy Brown, Commissioner District 1, Fairfield
Julie Roush, County Clerk, Fairfield
Jody Hamilton, County Council District 2, Wayne
Kathy Vernon, County Council, District 3, Wea
Kelli Stump, Fairfield Township Board, Fairfield
April O'Brien, Fairfield Township Trustee, Fairfield
Lynn Beck, Lauramie Township Trustee, Lauramie
Frank Cederquist, Perry Township Trustee, Perry
Pat Harrington, Prosecutor, Tippecanoe
Kristy Martin, Recorder, Wea
Jerry Arvin, Sheffield Township Board, Sheffield
Pamela Crum, Sheffield Township Trustee, Sheffield
Stephen Lange, Shelby Township Board, Shelby
Don Nesbitt, Shelby Township Board, Shelby
James VanSchepen, Shelby Township Board, Shelby
Jerry Rooze, Shelby Township Trustee, Shelby
Jason Huber, Sheriff, Wabash
Mary Gish, Union Township Board, Union
Steven Plantenga, Union Township Board, Union
Jo Ritchie, Union Township Trustee, Union
Eric Hoppenjans, Wabash Township Trustee, Wabash
Benjamin Petrie, Washington Township Board, Washington
Barbara Knochel, Washington Township Trustee, Washington
George Buck, Wea Township Board, Wea
Andrea Moore, Wea Township Board, Wea
Jim Slaven, Wea Township Trustee, Wea
James Martin, Wea Township Board, Wea
Jeanne Benjamin, Randolph Township Trustee, Randolph
The Journal & Courier will update the filing list each week and again on the last day candidates can file, Feb. 4.
Important election dates
The Democratic and Republican primaries will be held Tuesday, May 3. Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
The General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Trustee posts draw interested candidates; list of filings grows