Secretary Of State Touts Election Security At GOP Fish Fry
April 7, 2022 at 3:03 a.m.
Secretary Of State Touts Election Security At GOP Fish Fry
By David [email protected]
Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan was one of the state elected officials who trekked to the biannual fundraiser, but voters won’t find her name on the ballot May 3.
“I will be on the ballot in 2022, but the difference is, I won’t be on your May ballot because I have a constitutional office and constitutional offices are races in the convention. The convention is June 17 and 18 in Indianapolis. The delegates that vote at the convention will be on the ballot this May, so early voting has already started,” she said during a break from serving the food.
Sullivan, who has been in office for over a year, said her office has accomplished a lot during that time. She said they’ve increased security for absentee ballots and there’s more cybersecurity in place across the state for elections to protect the statewide voter registration system.
“And, we just got approval from the legislature that they funded verified paper trails. So we now, before 2024, we’ll have every voter in the state of Indiana will be able to vote on a direct record piece of equipment ... at your polling locations, but next to it you’ll see your paper ballot print and you can verify it on the printout before you cast it. And that is just to increase voter confidence,” Sullivan said.
She said she wanted to “continue the momentum around our strong elections, continue to defend them from the overreach of the Biden administration and the federal government because they continue to try to take away states’ rights, and I also feel it’s important that Indiana leads. Indiana has strong election code, and our neighboring states and across the nation can learn from what we have accomplished through a commitment to Hoosiers to safeguard their vote and all the work that the legislature does. I want to lead and work with other secretaries of state across the nation to help them with their implementation of like-minded common sense election law.”
District 22
Incumbent State Reps. Craig Snow and Curt Nisly - who are vying for the District 22 seat since redistricting in 2021 led to 22 overlapping with District 18 - were at the fish fry with the legislative session having adjourned March 8.
Snow said his campaign was doing the work that needed to be done - knocking on doors, talking to people, putting out signs - so that he could hopefully win on May 3.
“I want to be focusing next year, in a budget year, when we work on our finances for the state, I want to make sure we maintain a very healthy, fiscally sound budget. Compared to our neighboring states, Indiana is very strong and I’m very proud of that, so I’d like to be a part of that budget cycle - stuff that interests me - so I’d like to be able to be a part of working on a budget that continues to move things forward for our state and keeps us in the black,” Snow said.
Toward the end of the legislative session, the legislatures passed - and Gov. Eric Holcomb signed - a $1.1 billion tax cut package, which could reduce Indiana’s tax rate from 3.23% to 2.9% over seven years.
“So the bill that we passed on the tax cuts will put more money back into Hoosiers’ pockets. There’s a couple of components that didn’t get through, and we’ll work on that next year, but what we want to do is focus on what we truly need to run the state, and then the rest of it, Hoosiers need to keep,” Snow said. “So we’re trying to figure that out and work through that.”
In his first two-year term in office, Snow got three bills passed.
“The one that I’m really proud of was - I worked with (Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce CEO) Rob Parker and (LaunchPad Director) Sherry Searles - and what that bill does is it allows school corporations to have daycare provided in their facility. By doing that - we’ve got a big issue in Kosciusko County as well as the rest of the state where there’s a lack of affordable childcare, lack of availability in childcare - and this bill is going to allow schools to open up their doors to offer childcare - if they want to, they don’t have to - and not have to adhere to ... what I call red tape issues that the government put on them. There were just a lot of issues and hardships in trying to get that started, and we just removed all that red tape,” Snow said.
Asked how his campaign was going, Nisly said it was up to the voters.
“So it’s my job to get the message to the voters. It’s his (Snow’s) job to do whatever he’s doing,” Nisly said. “But it’s up to the voters to decide. I’ve been knocking the doors, especially in the new part (of the district). I’ve been also knocking in the old part. But the reception at the doors has been really, really good, very encouraging.”
He said the one question that often comes up from voters is what is the difference between him and Snow.
“The response is our leadership style in that I have found unconventional, sometimes unconventional, ways of getting stuff done. I’ve figured out how to get stuff done, sometimes unconventional.”
He stated that he’s never had a bill go through with his name at the top.
“And I don’t care. I’m kind of proud of it actually. But, it’s amazing what you can get done if you don’t care who gets the credit for it,” Nisly said. “So I’ve got local issues with the boat inspections, the annexations. I’ve got those done by not having my name at the top of a bill. But there’s other ways of getting things done.”
Nisly said the constitutional carry gun bill that Holcomb signed “is evidence. I was the one pushing for it, and pushing against Republican leadership for years on that one, and now it’s gone through.”
If re-elected, Nisly said his big thing next year will be “banning the practice of abortion in Indiana” and it’s very close to happening. “I’ve been pushing for that for several years now. For six years, I filed a bill, and now it looks like we’re on the brink of passing something very soon.”
A U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion is expected this summer. Nisly said his argument has always been that the state doesn’t need to wait on the Court. “I’ve been willing to push it before, without waiting for the Supreme Court,” he said.
Other issues Nisly said he would like to take head on are forced vaccinations and the governor’s emergency powers.
On May 24, lawmakers return for a one-day session to handle technical corrections. That’s when Republicans are expected to override Holcomb’s veto on the legislation that bans transgender girls from playing on girls sports teams. Snow and Nisly both said they will vote in favor of overriding Holcomb’s veto.
“So I voted in favor of that bill when it came across the floor, and I’m going to go in on May 24 and vote to override the veto because I’ve had daughters that played sports and the thought of them having to compete against a male, it’s not the same playing field, so that needs to be level and we’re just going to disallow that in Indiana,” Snow said.
He said it would be hard to convince them that a biological male should be able to compete against a biological female. “That just makes no sense to me,” Snow said.
Nisly said overriding the governor’s veto was something very important the state legislature had to do.
State Treasurer Candidate
Kelly Mitchell is the incumbent state treasurer, but Daniel Elliott is seeking to take over that seat.
He said he decided to run for the office because, “When I looked at the office of state treasurer, I saw that there was a big component that worked with local government, and I have been for many years working in local government, about a decade, as a county councilman, president of the redevelopment commission and a county chairman. And also, the part that probably just tipped me over the edge, was the deep involvement of the state treasurer’s office in helping local government with cybersecurity issues, and that’s what I do for a living. Ever since I got out of college, 20-plus years of experience in technology and cybersecurity.”
Elliott, who grew up in Jennings County and lives in Morgan County, said his background in local government and technology lends to the needs of the treasurer’s office.
Not only did he say his campaign was going well, but he also said he is the only candidate to hit all 92 of Indiana’s counties, and that was before Christmas.
“I’m working really hard, trying to meet with delegates, and talk to them one on one. I’ve put about 45,000 miles on my pickup truck since I started this race last summer,” he said.
County Candidates
One thing all the county candidates agreed on Wednesday was that campaigning for the May primary was going well.
“I think it’s going really well. We’re getting out there, visiting a lot of people, getting our signs out, getting our name out. We’re getting ready to start our door-to-door campaign that will run up all the way to election day,” County Council District 3 candidate Tony Ciriello stated.
He said in meeting voters, many people don’t understand what the County Council is about. “So the biggest thing I’ve been doing is trying to educate them that the County Council is not policymaking at all. The County Council is strictly financial ... a lot of people don’t understand that because if you look at Warsaw city, their Council does both. In the towns, their council does both. But the County Council is completely different.”
Ciriello is up against Scott Clay and Josh Lozano in the primary.
Clay said his campaign was going really good. “We’ve been blessed with a ton of support, both in Winona Lake and Warsaw. Actually, throughout the whole county, we’ve seen signs popping up people have been taking from Republican headquarters. It’s been going really good,” he said.
He said the thing he hears most from everyone is that they’re ready to “see new energy in the government.”
Kimberly Cates, incumbent for County Council District 1, said her campaign was going “excellent.” Most people have been asking her about what the function of the Council is, she said.
“Since we do the budget, a lot of people aren’t familiar with the commissioners do policy and the council does the budget. So a lot of people ask about the budget, different specific things in the budget. Questions that we’ve had going on in the last year - that’s a big discussion,” Cates said.
Chasity Sandy is up against Rhonda Helser for county auditor in the primary.
“It’s going wonderful,” Sandy said of her campaign. She has enjoyed getting out and meeting people she knows and new people and listening to their concerns.
The biggest concern she’s hearing from people is about taxes - why are taxes going up, how can they lower their taxes, trying to understand the whole tax system.
“It’s been good to sit and talk to people and help them understand a little bit more of how and where their money goes,” Sandy said.
Helser said she felt “pretty confident” about her campaign for auditor since she’s the elected county treasurer already and has the experience. She said she feels she has the needed skills to be the auditor.
People often ask her what her goals are for being auditor and she said those include cross-training in the department and streamlining the website.
Asked why people should vote for her, Helser said, “because of my experience, commitment. I’m qualified, I’ve been an elected official. I’ve been out there hitting the streets. So I feel like I’m the best candidate for the job.”
For county recorder, the Republican primary candidates are Deb Wright and Teena Pence.
Wright said the campaign was going good. “It’s been fun so far. It’s kind of like riding a bike - gotta get right back on. But so far so good,” she said.
The first time she ran for recorder she faced opposition then, but didn’t face any contenders in her re-election. A recorder can only hold office for two consecutive four-year terms, so if Wright wins this year, it’ll be her third non-consecutive term.
If Wright wins, she said not much will change for her as she’s worked in the office for so long, but she will have to get back to doing the administrative duties.
“Because I am the most experienced with 23 years in the office, eight years as the recorder already,” Wright answered when asked why voters should choose her.
Pence said her campaign was going good and it’s pretty fast-paced.
“It’s a new thing for me,” she said, as it’s the first time she’s ran for political office.
A voter should elect her, she said, because her whole career has been in keeping records and she’s familiar with the laws regarding the keeping of records.
“I’ve got over 20 years of experience in records,” she said, as well as a background in law, title work and five years in the finance department of the auditor’s office.
Bob Conley, incumbent for the southern district county commissioner seat, faces three challengers in the primary - Elaine Kokenge, Brian Pyle and Don Wiesehan.
Pyle said he was running for office because he wants to continue to serve the “great people” of Kosciusko County.
“I think that I have gotten a great grassroots response. The messages I’m getting basically indicate they think I’m experienced and I have a great plan for the future,” Pyle said.
He said he’s found that many people he’s talked to don’t even know what the commissioners are responsible for so he gets to talk to them about the roles and responsibilities.
“One of the primary things a commissioner does is help with the ordinances that affects everyone in the county. An ordinance is nothing more than the law, and as an attorney I understand that laws affect everybody, even though the best intention is to support one group, solve one problem, and may cause a ripple effect on others. So, I definitely want to take a closer look at ordinances before we pass them,” Pyle stated.
Conley said his campaign was going very well and he has a lot of support. He said he’s been receiving a lot of questions and concerns while campaigning.
“Of course, my being on the sheriff’s department for 47 years, they think I have the answers to all their questions, but I answer their questions honestly and forthrightly, but they have to ask. I’m not one to go around and promote, but if people ask me I’m going to be honest with them,” he said.
Conley, who has served four terms of four years each, said having three competitors makes it more challenging but “iron sharpens iron. If you’ve got competition, you get that fire in your belly starts to burn.”
Wiesehan, who served in the sheriff’s office for over two decades, said he’s been really busy, getting out and talking to a lot of people.
“I’m a big term-limit guy, I believe in term limits so we should do eight years and get out, if we’re so lucky to be chosen for the second four years as well. I just think the government becomes too status quo at times if we don’t get some movement with the term limits. If you don’t have term limits, I think you should impose them on yourself,” he said.
He said a lot that he’s hearing is that people don’t feel that they’re being heard by the commissioners.
While incumbent Sheriff Kyle Dukes was in Florida, he had signs and representative at the fish fry. His competitor, Jim Smith, said his campaign was going well and he was very pleased with what he’s been hearing so far.
People are asking and talking to him about the issues they’re hearing about in the county jail, he said, from the damages inmates cause to the alleged overdoses. The Jail Chemical Addiction Program also is another topic of discussion.
As for the jail issues, Smith said, “It starts with the top leadership. I’m going to roll my sleeves up and I’ll be right back there trying to get it in order.”
Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan was one of the state elected officials who trekked to the biannual fundraiser, but voters won’t find her name on the ballot May 3.
“I will be on the ballot in 2022, but the difference is, I won’t be on your May ballot because I have a constitutional office and constitutional offices are races in the convention. The convention is June 17 and 18 in Indianapolis. The delegates that vote at the convention will be on the ballot this May, so early voting has already started,” she said during a break from serving the food.
Sullivan, who has been in office for over a year, said her office has accomplished a lot during that time. She said they’ve increased security for absentee ballots and there’s more cybersecurity in place across the state for elections to protect the statewide voter registration system.
“And, we just got approval from the legislature that they funded verified paper trails. So we now, before 2024, we’ll have every voter in the state of Indiana will be able to vote on a direct record piece of equipment ... at your polling locations, but next to it you’ll see your paper ballot print and you can verify it on the printout before you cast it. And that is just to increase voter confidence,” Sullivan said.
She said she wanted to “continue the momentum around our strong elections, continue to defend them from the overreach of the Biden administration and the federal government because they continue to try to take away states’ rights, and I also feel it’s important that Indiana leads. Indiana has strong election code, and our neighboring states and across the nation can learn from what we have accomplished through a commitment to Hoosiers to safeguard their vote and all the work that the legislature does. I want to lead and work with other secretaries of state across the nation to help them with their implementation of like-minded common sense election law.”
District 22
Incumbent State Reps. Craig Snow and Curt Nisly - who are vying for the District 22 seat since redistricting in 2021 led to 22 overlapping with District 18 - were at the fish fry with the legislative session having adjourned March 8.
Snow said his campaign was doing the work that needed to be done - knocking on doors, talking to people, putting out signs - so that he could hopefully win on May 3.
“I want to be focusing next year, in a budget year, when we work on our finances for the state, I want to make sure we maintain a very healthy, fiscally sound budget. Compared to our neighboring states, Indiana is very strong and I’m very proud of that, so I’d like to be a part of that budget cycle - stuff that interests me - so I’d like to be able to be a part of working on a budget that continues to move things forward for our state and keeps us in the black,” Snow said.
Toward the end of the legislative session, the legislatures passed - and Gov. Eric Holcomb signed - a $1.1 billion tax cut package, which could reduce Indiana’s tax rate from 3.23% to 2.9% over seven years.
“So the bill that we passed on the tax cuts will put more money back into Hoosiers’ pockets. There’s a couple of components that didn’t get through, and we’ll work on that next year, but what we want to do is focus on what we truly need to run the state, and then the rest of it, Hoosiers need to keep,” Snow said. “So we’re trying to figure that out and work through that.”
In his first two-year term in office, Snow got three bills passed.
“The one that I’m really proud of was - I worked with (Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce CEO) Rob Parker and (LaunchPad Director) Sherry Searles - and what that bill does is it allows school corporations to have daycare provided in their facility. By doing that - we’ve got a big issue in Kosciusko County as well as the rest of the state where there’s a lack of affordable childcare, lack of availability in childcare - and this bill is going to allow schools to open up their doors to offer childcare - if they want to, they don’t have to - and not have to adhere to ... what I call red tape issues that the government put on them. There were just a lot of issues and hardships in trying to get that started, and we just removed all that red tape,” Snow said.
Asked how his campaign was going, Nisly said it was up to the voters.
“So it’s my job to get the message to the voters. It’s his (Snow’s) job to do whatever he’s doing,” Nisly said. “But it’s up to the voters to decide. I’ve been knocking the doors, especially in the new part (of the district). I’ve been also knocking in the old part. But the reception at the doors has been really, really good, very encouraging.”
He said the one question that often comes up from voters is what is the difference between him and Snow.
“The response is our leadership style in that I have found unconventional, sometimes unconventional, ways of getting stuff done. I’ve figured out how to get stuff done, sometimes unconventional.”
He stated that he’s never had a bill go through with his name at the top.
“And I don’t care. I’m kind of proud of it actually. But, it’s amazing what you can get done if you don’t care who gets the credit for it,” Nisly said. “So I’ve got local issues with the boat inspections, the annexations. I’ve got those done by not having my name at the top of a bill. But there’s other ways of getting things done.”
Nisly said the constitutional carry gun bill that Holcomb signed “is evidence. I was the one pushing for it, and pushing against Republican leadership for years on that one, and now it’s gone through.”
If re-elected, Nisly said his big thing next year will be “banning the practice of abortion in Indiana” and it’s very close to happening. “I’ve been pushing for that for several years now. For six years, I filed a bill, and now it looks like we’re on the brink of passing something very soon.”
A U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion is expected this summer. Nisly said his argument has always been that the state doesn’t need to wait on the Court. “I’ve been willing to push it before, without waiting for the Supreme Court,” he said.
Other issues Nisly said he would like to take head on are forced vaccinations and the governor’s emergency powers.
On May 24, lawmakers return for a one-day session to handle technical corrections. That’s when Republicans are expected to override Holcomb’s veto on the legislation that bans transgender girls from playing on girls sports teams. Snow and Nisly both said they will vote in favor of overriding Holcomb’s veto.
“So I voted in favor of that bill when it came across the floor, and I’m going to go in on May 24 and vote to override the veto because I’ve had daughters that played sports and the thought of them having to compete against a male, it’s not the same playing field, so that needs to be level and we’re just going to disallow that in Indiana,” Snow said.
He said it would be hard to convince them that a biological male should be able to compete against a biological female. “That just makes no sense to me,” Snow said.
Nisly said overriding the governor’s veto was something very important the state legislature had to do.
State Treasurer Candidate
Kelly Mitchell is the incumbent state treasurer, but Daniel Elliott is seeking to take over that seat.
He said he decided to run for the office because, “When I looked at the office of state treasurer, I saw that there was a big component that worked with local government, and I have been for many years working in local government, about a decade, as a county councilman, president of the redevelopment commission and a county chairman. And also, the part that probably just tipped me over the edge, was the deep involvement of the state treasurer’s office in helping local government with cybersecurity issues, and that’s what I do for a living. Ever since I got out of college, 20-plus years of experience in technology and cybersecurity.”
Elliott, who grew up in Jennings County and lives in Morgan County, said his background in local government and technology lends to the needs of the treasurer’s office.
Not only did he say his campaign was going well, but he also said he is the only candidate to hit all 92 of Indiana’s counties, and that was before Christmas.
“I’m working really hard, trying to meet with delegates, and talk to them one on one. I’ve put about 45,000 miles on my pickup truck since I started this race last summer,” he said.
County Candidates
One thing all the county candidates agreed on Wednesday was that campaigning for the May primary was going well.
“I think it’s going really well. We’re getting out there, visiting a lot of people, getting our signs out, getting our name out. We’re getting ready to start our door-to-door campaign that will run up all the way to election day,” County Council District 3 candidate Tony Ciriello stated.
He said in meeting voters, many people don’t understand what the County Council is about. “So the biggest thing I’ve been doing is trying to educate them that the County Council is not policymaking at all. The County Council is strictly financial ... a lot of people don’t understand that because if you look at Warsaw city, their Council does both. In the towns, their council does both. But the County Council is completely different.”
Ciriello is up against Scott Clay and Josh Lozano in the primary.
Clay said his campaign was going really good. “We’ve been blessed with a ton of support, both in Winona Lake and Warsaw. Actually, throughout the whole county, we’ve seen signs popping up people have been taking from Republican headquarters. It’s been going really good,” he said.
He said the thing he hears most from everyone is that they’re ready to “see new energy in the government.”
Kimberly Cates, incumbent for County Council District 1, said her campaign was going “excellent.” Most people have been asking her about what the function of the Council is, she said.
“Since we do the budget, a lot of people aren’t familiar with the commissioners do policy and the council does the budget. So a lot of people ask about the budget, different specific things in the budget. Questions that we’ve had going on in the last year - that’s a big discussion,” Cates said.
Chasity Sandy is up against Rhonda Helser for county auditor in the primary.
“It’s going wonderful,” Sandy said of her campaign. She has enjoyed getting out and meeting people she knows and new people and listening to their concerns.
The biggest concern she’s hearing from people is about taxes - why are taxes going up, how can they lower their taxes, trying to understand the whole tax system.
“It’s been good to sit and talk to people and help them understand a little bit more of how and where their money goes,” Sandy said.
Helser said she felt “pretty confident” about her campaign for auditor since she’s the elected county treasurer already and has the experience. She said she feels she has the needed skills to be the auditor.
People often ask her what her goals are for being auditor and she said those include cross-training in the department and streamlining the website.
Asked why people should vote for her, Helser said, “because of my experience, commitment. I’m qualified, I’ve been an elected official. I’ve been out there hitting the streets. So I feel like I’m the best candidate for the job.”
For county recorder, the Republican primary candidates are Deb Wright and Teena Pence.
Wright said the campaign was going good. “It’s been fun so far. It’s kind of like riding a bike - gotta get right back on. But so far so good,” she said.
The first time she ran for recorder she faced opposition then, but didn’t face any contenders in her re-election. A recorder can only hold office for two consecutive four-year terms, so if Wright wins this year, it’ll be her third non-consecutive term.
If Wright wins, she said not much will change for her as she’s worked in the office for so long, but she will have to get back to doing the administrative duties.
“Because I am the most experienced with 23 years in the office, eight years as the recorder already,” Wright answered when asked why voters should choose her.
Pence said her campaign was going good and it’s pretty fast-paced.
“It’s a new thing for me,” she said, as it’s the first time she’s ran for political office.
A voter should elect her, she said, because her whole career has been in keeping records and she’s familiar with the laws regarding the keeping of records.
“I’ve got over 20 years of experience in records,” she said, as well as a background in law, title work and five years in the finance department of the auditor’s office.
Bob Conley, incumbent for the southern district county commissioner seat, faces three challengers in the primary - Elaine Kokenge, Brian Pyle and Don Wiesehan.
Pyle said he was running for office because he wants to continue to serve the “great people” of Kosciusko County.
“I think that I have gotten a great grassroots response. The messages I’m getting basically indicate they think I’m experienced and I have a great plan for the future,” Pyle said.
He said he’s found that many people he’s talked to don’t even know what the commissioners are responsible for so he gets to talk to them about the roles and responsibilities.
“One of the primary things a commissioner does is help with the ordinances that affects everyone in the county. An ordinance is nothing more than the law, and as an attorney I understand that laws affect everybody, even though the best intention is to support one group, solve one problem, and may cause a ripple effect on others. So, I definitely want to take a closer look at ordinances before we pass them,” Pyle stated.
Conley said his campaign was going very well and he has a lot of support. He said he’s been receiving a lot of questions and concerns while campaigning.
“Of course, my being on the sheriff’s department for 47 years, they think I have the answers to all their questions, but I answer their questions honestly and forthrightly, but they have to ask. I’m not one to go around and promote, but if people ask me I’m going to be honest with them,” he said.
Conley, who has served four terms of four years each, said having three competitors makes it more challenging but “iron sharpens iron. If you’ve got competition, you get that fire in your belly starts to burn.”
Wiesehan, who served in the sheriff’s office for over two decades, said he’s been really busy, getting out and talking to a lot of people.
“I’m a big term-limit guy, I believe in term limits so we should do eight years and get out, if we’re so lucky to be chosen for the second four years as well. I just think the government becomes too status quo at times if we don’t get some movement with the term limits. If you don’t have term limits, I think you should impose them on yourself,” he said.
He said a lot that he’s hearing is that people don’t feel that they’re being heard by the commissioners.
While incumbent Sheriff Kyle Dukes was in Florida, he had signs and representative at the fish fry. His competitor, Jim Smith, said his campaign was going well and he was very pleased with what he’s been hearing so far.
People are asking and talking to him about the issues they’re hearing about in the county jail, he said, from the damages inmates cause to the alleged overdoses. The Jail Chemical Addiction Program also is another topic of discussion.
As for the jail issues, Smith said, “It starts with the top leadership. I’m going to roll my sleeves up and I’ll be right back there trying to get it in order.”
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