GOP Chair Speaks Out on Eligibility of New Democrat City Council Member

by Johnny Kincaid City-County Observer

Tanisha Carothers attended her first Evansville City Council as a representative of the 4th Ward on Monday, but questions have been raised regarding her eligibility to serve in that position. The dispute centers on whether Tanisha Carothers meets the residency requirements to represent the 4th Ward.

Voting records show that Carothers was registered to vote in the 3rd Ward and an online application for an address change was filed on November 2, changing her address from a Bayard Park residence in Ward 3 to 39 Washington in the 4th Ward.

Members of both parties have voiced concern that Carothers is not legally able to serve, including Vanderburgh County Republican Chair Mike Duckworth, who said, “I have been provided the documents which show that she was ineligible, not sure where the disconnect was but it appears that she has been sworn into an office she was not eligible to be considered for my state law. The local Democratic Party appeared to have missed it or ignored it. Either way, it should be corrected.”

Vanderburgh County Democratic Party chair, Cheryl Schultz did not respond to our request for comment.

Carothers opponent at the caucus, Angie Bullock is also voicing concern about the eligibility.

Indiana State Code 3-8-1-27 says, “A candidate for membership on the common council of a second or third class city must:

(1) have resided in the city for at least one (1) year; and

(2) have resided in the district in which seeking election, if applicable, for at least six (6) months before the election.”

The CEB 5, declaration of candidacy for office to be filled by a caucus, was signed by Carothers on November 1, 2024. She states in the form that she is registered to vote in the 4th Ward, but she did not file to the change of address until the next day and, according to voter registration records, Carothers voted in the 3rd Ward on November 5. Above her signature, the form states, “I, the undersigned, certify that the information in the Declaration of Candidacy is true and complete, and that I meet the specific requirements of this office.”

Carothers was endorsed by Alex Burton to take his seat on the council. In a letter to Our Times newspaper, Burton said, “The council needs and deserves a voice that is in touch with the entire 4th ward. The council needs and deserves a voice that works in the 4th Ward, worships in the 4th Ward, and has for years believed in the entire 4th Ward and all of it’s people – that’s you, me, and us.”

No decision has been made about whether there will be a legal challenge of Carothers’s eligibility to serve as a 4th Ward council member. Some have raised the question of whether Bullock would automatically replace Carothers if found ineligible, or will the Democrats have to conduct another caucus.

FOOTNOTE:  THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.