JUST IN: MIKE DUCKWORTH FILES FORMAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST DAUGHERTY, COLBERT AND SMITH

VANDERBURGH COUNTY GOP CHAIRMAN MIKE DUCKWORTH FILES FORMAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST DAUGHERTY, COLBERT AND BATTEIGER-SMITH

By Johnny Kincaid

MAY 24,2024

Michael Duckworth, the Chairman of the Vanderburgh County GOP, has filed an official complaint with the 8th Congressional District Chair, Brenda Goff, in an attempt to unseat at least three recently elected Precinct Committee members and state convention delegates.

The targets of the complaints are Michael Daugherty, the former Libertarian Candidate for Mayor who has called for Duckworth to resign, Ken Colbert, who was involved in recruiting conservatives to run for precinct committee seats and has called for Duckworth to resign, and Cheryl Battinger Smith, who worked with Colbert on recruiting efforts and has been critical of Duckworth. 

Previously, Duckworth tried to keep Daugherty off the ballot with a challenge to his candidacy on the same terms as the current charges. In a Vanderburgh County Election Commission hearing, Daugherty prevailed, and the board allowed his name to be on the ballot. The current complaint was filed on May 20, three days after Duckworth and the Election Commission voted to certify the primary election results that included the election of Daugherty, Colbert, and Batteiger Smith as a PC and delegate. The complaint against Colbert came just five days after the GOP caucus when Colbert called for Duckworth to be replaced. Smith is the former Vice-Chairperson of the Posey County GOP and has also been critical of Duckworth.

The complaints filed by Duckworth appear to be form letters that all make the same charges to justify removal from their party positions. The letter accuses the recipients of violating the two-primary rule, a rule that Daugherty says he complies with, and Colbert claims that he has voted in every primary as a Republican. The other allegation is that the recipients are not “members in good standing” with the Republican Party, but no specific examples of behavior are given. 

Goff and representatives from the 8th District GOP have set a June 3 closed hearing. 

It is unknown if there were other complaints filed by Duckworth.

FOOTNOTE: Vanderburgh County GOP Chairman Michael Duckworth declined the opportunity to be interviewed for this article.  This is a developing story.