Another Indiana Democratic Official Charged With Vote Fraud

Austin Mayor Douglas Campbell and his city's sanitation chief, Terry Danner, were charged with felony vote fraud and conspiracy charges in Scott County yesterday following a lengthy investigation by special prosecutor Barry Brown. The two are accused of completing absentee ballots for several voters in last year's municipal primary election. The investigation was launched after a losing Democratic primary candidate, Brandon White, filed affidavits last June for four voters who cast absentee ballots in the municipal election. The Louisville Courier-Journal has more information:

White said the charges vindicate people who stepped forward to report the allegations. “A lot of people in the community are relieved,” he said.

Brown declined to comment on the evidence gathered. But he praised state police Detective Scott Stewart, saying “his performance was professional, thorough and meticulous, and I’m grateful for this investigative efforts.”

Questions raised about the mayor’s primary didn’t sideline Campbell, who handily won in the spring and captured a second term in the city of 4,700 last November.

Phone messages left for Campbell on his cell phone were not returned. His lawyer, Kathleen Sweeney of Indianapolis, did not respond to two messages left at her office.

Danner did not return message left at a home number. And his lawyer, Michael E. Krupp of Indianapolis, did not respond to messages left at a phone number listed in court records.

Meanwhile, city officials in Austin said they don’t think the arrests will affect day-to-day operations. Campbell told city clerk-treasurer Dillo Bush on Tuesday morning that he doesn’t intend to resign and that “it’s going to be business as usual,” Bush said.

Of the arrests, Bush said: “Obviously it’s troubling, but I can’t even say what I think. This is new ground.”

Campbell’s annual salary is $47,722, while Danner’s is $43,498, according to city records.

Last October, a prominent Democratic leader in Jennings County, Mike Marshall, Marshall's son and John Cook were charged with multiple counts of vote fraud, forgery and perjury stemming from their efforts in gathering absentee ballots for the Democratic Party.