INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday declined Lincoln Party secretary of state candidate Greg Ballard’s request that he order the Indiana Election Commission to meet before Election Day on four pending campaign finance complaints. Braun also campaigned for Republican Marion County prosecutor candidate Phillip Foust, who pledged to convene a juvenile crime task force before taking office.
In a response letter released by his office, Braun said he was satisfied the commission had “managed the business of election law competently and efficiently.” He also cited the Marion Superior Court’s finding that Ballard had offered no evidence that the commission’s scheduled Nov. 20 meeting would be insufficient to address the complaints, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
State law gives the governor and the commission chair authority to call meetings. The commission has two Republicans and two Democrats. Its chair, Beth Boyce, is also the Johnson County Republican chair. The complaints were filed against Republican nominee Max Engling and Democratic nominee Beau Bayh.
Ballard said he had the letter hand-delivered to the governor’s office Monday and that all four candidates in the race agree the commission should meet. Asked before Braun’s response whether he expected the governor to act, Ballard said, “I’m not sure that I have that confidence, to be frank with you.”
The request followed a ruling by Marion Superior Court Judge Jennifer Prinz Harrison denying Ballard’s motion for a preliminary injunction to compel a meeting. In an order dated Oct. 26, Harrison found that Ballard’s argument that a pre-election hearing could affect voters was speculative. She concluded he had not shown irreparable harm or a likelihood of success on the merits. The lawsuit remains pending.
Ballard declined to address the court’s reasoning on standing directly. “If anybody had standing, it was me,” he said.
Ballard said the commission had met in September in each of the previous five years but did not this year, despite having four complaints before it. He said the commission was delaying for political reasons to protect the two major parties’ candidates. He did not present evidence of the commissioners’ motives.
Ballard proposed that five retired judges serve on the Recount Commission and that administrative law judges serve on the Election Commission. If political appointees remain, he said, the Election Commission should add a Libertarian member. He also called for a state voter guide and standardized training for county clerks, saying clerks had asked for that support. He said taxpayers spend about $10 million each cycle on party primaries.
Ballard said his campaign will continue TV advertising, texting and outreach events through Election Day.
At the Foust appearance, Braun said the public’s sense of safety in downtown Indianapolis had declined, citing crime, homelessness and repeat offenders. He endorsed Foust and urged voters to consider splitting their tickets.
Foust called juvenile crime a “five-alarm fire,” citing carjackings, shootings and high-speed chases. He said the task force would include experienced prosecutors and produce a plan to implement beginning Jan. 1. The plan would cover law enforcement coordination, transparency in the juvenile system and support for victims and families. He did not name members or say how success would be measured.
“Accountability is not cruelty,” Foust said. Asked whether he would seek adult charges for more juveniles, he said teenagers who commit armed carjackings should be prosecuted as adults.
Foust criticized incumbent Prosecutor Ryan Mears over the Julian Walkner child sexual abuse material case, saying prosecutors did not seek prison time. He also accused Mears of preparing a run for mayor and avoiding a debate. Foust said he has pledged to serve a full four-year term. Mears was not at the event to respond.
Asked by Indy Politics how a Republican could win in heavily Democratic Marion County, Foust said Democrats and independents are also dissatisfied with the current approach to crime and that public safety should come before party. Braun said voters should judge the race on public safety.
