Vanderburgh County Election Board Faces Contentious Challenges in Primary Candidacy
WRITTEN BY CCO REPORTER JOHNNY KINCAID
FEBRUARY 29, 2024
In a tense session today, the Vanderburgh County Election Board grappled with a series of challenges to primary candidates, leaving many aspiring Precinct Committeemen and Convention Delegates disappointed. The board convened to address concerns regarding candidates from both major parties in this year’s primary election.
At the heart of the matter lay the Indiana requirement mandating candidates to have voted for their affiliated party in the two most recent primaries they participated in. Throughout the proceedings, the commission continually referred to the law, seeking clarity and consistency amidst what was described as poorly written legislation by Doug Briody, legal counsel for the board, who advised dissatisfied parties to direct their grievances to state lawmakers.
The initial cases predominantly revolved around candidates who had received waivers from GOP Chairman Mike Duckworth prior to filing their candidacies. Despite challenges raised by concerned citizens regarding the perceived inconsistency in granting waivers, the board unanimously overruled all challenges, including those against Amy Canterbury, who hopes to unseat Republican county commissioner Cheryl Musgrave.
Democratic chair Cheryl Schultz filed one challenge against county commission hopeful Michael Lockard. Despite Lockard’s assertion of over 40 years of active involvement as a Democrat, the board upheld the challenge, casting doubts on Lockard’s eligibility.
Duckworth initiated challenges against a dozen Republican candidates, all of which were systematically upheld by the board, bringing about grumbles of disapproval from the large crowd in the room and spilling out into the hallway
The climax of the session unfolded during the case of Michael Daugherty, who faced two challenges to his candidacy for PC and Delegate, both filed by Duckworth. Daugherty, accompanied by his attorney David Jones, did a master job in contesting the inconsistent application of the primary voting law, likening it to “party bosses” who wield disproportionate influence and favor their cronies. While Daugherty’s voting history included a nonpartisan and then Republican ballot in the two preceding primaries, with a prior Republican voting record before that, the board determined that the law allows for the nonpartisan vote without disqualifying him. The second challenge referenced Daugherty’s prior run for mayor as a Libertarian, possibly violating party rules, but did not breach legal statutes. Ultimately, the board voted 2-1 to dismiss the challenges against Daugherty’s candidacy. The majority of those in attendance were openly excited after the vote in support of Micheal Daugherty.
 Many questions on the application of the law are still unanswered. We’ll be asking those questions in the future.
