Trustee posts draw interested candidates; list of filings grows

Deanna Watson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·3 min read

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